Pursuing a career in health care can come in many forms and no one's
path is the same.
Melissa Ireland, now a surgery nurse at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital,
began her medical career as a surgery technician in 1999.
She studied the College of Southern Idaho because closer programs were
full. When she graduated she was hired at MDMH and enjoyed her job.
“The nurses here encouraged me to continue my education to become
a nurse,” Ireland said. “I felt I could put my energy towards
being part of a team. Our purpose is to heal, our purpose is to accomplish
this goal for this patient – whatever we need to do to improve their
quality of life.”
Ireland said her desire to contribute more to the team pressed her to further
her education.
She received the $4,000 MDMH Medical Staff Scholarship. That help was huge.
“The financial burden of coming out of tech school could have been
a barrier,” Ireland said. “The scholarship fell in where it
needed to fall in and it was the extra push to send me to learn nursing.
It was a boost me to have the scholarship committee have enough faith
to give me that $4,000. I thought they trust me and I can’t let
them down.”
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