When Sarah West chose to become a nurse practitioner, her path was not only defined by a career choice but also shaped by the personal tragedies she had endured.
She lost her father to a heart attack at the age of 10 and her mother to breast cancer just six years after that. West was inspired to follow in her mother’s footsteps, a dedicated nursing assistant, to enter the world of health care.
West embarked on her journey at Lewis University’s nursing school, unaware of the unique opportunity that would soon divert her course toward an enriching professional trajectory. During a class lecture, her clinical instructor introduced her to the VA Student Trainee Experience Program (VA-STEP), an opportunity to intern at Hines VA in Chicago’s western suburbs.
Assigned to Spinal Cord Injury Center
West seized the chance and was selected for the coveted position. She was soon in the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Hines, providing care for bedridden Veterans alongside experienced VA wound care nurses. The Center is a comprehensive 58-bed unit that offers a broad range of medical treatment and rehabilitative services.
She found herself particularly drawn to the complexity of spinal wounds, an interest that would later define her area of expertise.
Among her impactful encounters was the care of a 20-year old Veteran, paralyzed from the chin down and reliant on a ventilator. His request for West’s long-term care due to her compassion and proficiency was a testament to her skills. It was a transformative experience as he was among the first ventilator-dependent patients she had cared for.
West attributes her professional success to VA-STEP. Not only did it offer her invaluable experiences, but it also provided a steppingstone toward her wound care certification and further pursuit of an advanced degree in the field.
“I have my dream job, and I owe it to VA.”
“I am grateful for VA-STEP. Without it, I can’t envision where I would be now. It gave me a foot in the door and, while my career didn’t unfold exactly as I had initially planned, I appreciate the wealth of experiences that led me to my ultimate career goal,” she said.
West continues her journey at Hines as a wound ostomy continence nurse practitioner. “I have my dream job now, and I owe it to VA for their unwavering support. They sought me out, selected me and nurtured me. For that, I couldn’t be more grateful,” she added.
VA-STEP offers an exceptional opportunity for distinguished college nursing students to enhance their clinical competencies at a recognized medical center. The program aims to foster participants’ clinical skills, judgement and critical thinking, all while caring for our nation’s Veterans.
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Ms. West suffered too much at such a young age, but she was very fortunate to be selected by the VA. In return, she has dedicated herself to Veterans and the VA. What a testament to the reciprocity of helping one another!