‘The Kind of Person I Wanted to Be’: How Compassion Inspired a Teen Mom to Make a Difference in Nursing
A pivotal moment during Heather’s teenage years shaped her future.
Growing up on the Oklahoma-Arkansas border as the oldest of several siblings raised by a single mother, Heather was no stranger to familial responsibility. It came earlier than expected for her.
And so did motherhood: Heather unexpectedly became pregnant at a young age, having her first child when she was just 14 years old.
Along with the challenges of pregnancy and childbirth, Heather says she experienced feeling stigmatized even as she was in labor at the hospital.
But this feeling gave way to a moment of compassion from a nurse that left a lasting impact. Feeling judged even by hospital staff, only one nurse showed her grace.
17 years in pediatrics — then a leap forward
Inspired by the drive to help people — including people like her — Heather dedicated her professional life to pediatric nursing, setting her sights on moving forward and providing the best care possible.
After nearly two decades of experience in the field, she never lost sight of her original goal: To become a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). She wanted to be able to create a bigger impact on the patients she served.
With her children growing up — her youngest now 17 years old — Heather decided it was time to continue her education and earn her master’s degree.
Heather started her online MSN-Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program at Maryville University in 2021, but the decision wasn’t an easy one at first. It was a time of uncertainty, and unfortunately, her husband was laid off three months after she applied to the program.
“We contemplated whether or not I should put it on hold, and he didn’t want me to do that,” Heather says. “He encouraged me to keep going.”
That encouragement was key to her success. Balancing work, parenting, and school wasn't easy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But even beyond the expected challenges of continuing her education, Heather endured more than most during, as she experienced the passing of several family members, including her father, and her family suffered a house fire caused by lightning.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Heather’s family continued to support her as she worked toward her degree, which she proudly completed in December 2024.
“There is an opportunity for me now,” she says. “That was my dream — my ultimate dream — and it’s starting to come true.”
Finding inspiration through education
Heather is a lifelong learner, always seeking new opportunities and ways to grow.
“There’s never a point where I know it all,” she says. “Medicine always changes, and with research, things come to light differently. We have to shift the way we do things and learn new ways or new paths. That also is exciting to me. Constantly learning how to do something better also helps me to improve myself and how I practice.”
Despite the hurdles she faced while completing her program at Maryville, Heather felt both her instructors and her fellow students created an uplifting online community.
“The instructors were great. Most of them were very encouraging and, as long as I communicated with them, would work with me,” she says. “And then, other students were great as far as helping me with study — lots of encouragement.”
Heather was particularly appreciative of instructors who drew on their professional histories and expertise in their lessons.
Even though she still faced moments of doubt, including needing to repeat one course, Heather knew she was doing what was right for her.
“It was challenging at times, and I obviously would complain at times about how difficult it is,” she says. “But I thought about it, and it’s a master’s program. It’s not intended to be super easy, otherwise everybody would do it.”
Becoming a voice for compassion
Beyond mastering physical exams and diagnostics, Heather says the program taught her something even more valuable: How to connect with families with empathy and clarity. She says communicating with parents to encourage them and ease their minds is one of her favorite aspects of her work.
“Being able to help parents understand their kids — ‘you know, your kid is going to be great; you’re doing a great job’ — helping them understand where they’re at and to help their kids be healthy is great,” she says.
She recalls one moment during her program when a newborn baby arrived with an unexpected limb difference.
“That was really a cool experience with the parents. We were able to talk them through, ‘your child’s still going to be able to do all the things she wants to do. We’re going to give her the tools she needs,’” she says. “That shift of constant worry to, ‘We have a game plan.’”
Now, Heather realizes her voice matters more than ever before.
“I impacted at the bedside as a nurse, of course,” she says. “But there’s a lot of things I couldn’t change or I couldn’t do because I didn’t have that kind of voice in the grand scheme of things. With this, I can make better change, or I can impact in a different way. So I’m excited for that.”
Heather now works at a clinic that is both inpatient and outpatient. She’s working on acquiring a dual certification to work in acute care so she can continue positively impacting people’s lives — and to help more patients than ever before.
Advice for Future Nurses
One way Heather motivated herself through her program and into her current practice is with encouraging messages written on her mirror with a dry erase marker. She says it helps her remember that, “I’m where I’m supposed to be, and when it’s hard, just remember your ‘why’ and you’ll get there.”
Heather’s journey began when one person showed her kindness during a vulnerable time in her life. Now, she’s paying that kindness forward and making a difference in the lives of children, parents, and families in her area.