A Nightingale Original: Meet Taylor Keele
As a Nightingale College original, Taylor Keele has worked at the College for four
and a half years since October of 2011. She is our Clinical and Lab Coordinator. To
start off, we asked her to share 3 random things about herself. Needless to say that
we got some awesome answers like the second fact that definitely sparked our curiosity.
- I’ve been married for 3.5 years. We met while we were both temporarily working in Louisiana. He was on TDY with the Air Force and I was a travel nurse.
- I once shut down the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. for 30 minutes…ask me and I’ll tell you the story.
- One of my ancestors is William Wallace (from the movie Braveheart).
Where did you go to school? And are you currently attending school? Is continuing
your nursing education (such as going on to get a BSN, MSN, etc.) something you would
recommend to all nursing students and current nurses?
Received by BSN from University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. I’m currently enrolled
at WGU for my MSN. I definitely recommend continuing education.
Why did you choose nursing as your career? Do you have a nursing specialty?
I always knew I wanted to help others and in the medical field. I’ve worked ICU/step-down
my whole career.
What has been your favorite moment in your nursing career?
I’ve had too many favorite moments, but they all involve patients and their families.
I’ve met some wonderful people in my career that have changed my life. One moment
that stands out was when I had a particularly tough patient. She was very ill and
her family had been worried and with her 24/7. After I came on shift and established
a rapport, they told me they felt like they could go home. That was the first time
they’d left the hospital since the patient had been admitted. It was a nice complement
to know they trusted me that much with their family member and her cares.
Why do you think nurses are important?
We are the caregivers at the bedside 24/7. We can be the difference in whether a
patient receives good care or not.
What is one thing that you perceived about nursing prior to working as an RN that
wasn’t true?
I don’t know that I had any perceived thoughts that weren’t true. I knew it would
be a tough job and sometimes thankless. I will say that this is true.
Nurses are the toughest of the tough. If you don’t mind sharing, what is one experience
you have had that has made you a stronger person and nurse?
Nurses are the caregivers at the bedside 24/7, and patients and their families trust
us with their care. I don’t think it’s truly understood until you’re in that position.
I’ve become more assertive since becoming a nurse. The difference between the patient
and the grave is the nurse. Following your gut feeling has helped too!
What would be your one piece of advice to nursing students?
You will get through this!
Finish the sentence… When I am not at work, I am _______
doing homework for grad school or outside in the summer!
If you were not a nurse, what job would you most likely have?
I’d probably be a history professor.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I like to read, go to concerts, travel, outdoors/camping.
Share anything else you would like people to know.
I have two cats: Sundance Kitty and Munchkin.
Favorite quote: “Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love
the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don’t, and believe that
everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your
life…let it. Nobody said that it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”
Favorite places to travel: the lake in Arkansas, home to Missouri, Napa
Bucket List: skydive, visit all 50 states by the age of 35 (I’m currently at 36!)