JNESO

Dreams do come true, but not always in the ways we expect. 

When Shanta Carter, RN, was a child it was her dream to become a teacher. “I always had to play school and be the teacher,” she said.  But as she got older her interests moved towards medicine.  “I was a pre-med/bio major in college, but while studying I heard someone talking about a nursing program and how hard it was to get in, so I thought, let me take the test and see, and I got in! I never looked back.”

Carter’s first job was in a nursing home. “I really enjoyed working with geriatric patients, they always made me smile and had such great stories.”  She recalled one patient “Mr. M.” who helped her create the style of nursing she continues today.  “He could not see or hear well and called me Karen. I had to leave for about two months, but when I came back he was so excited to see me and screamed ‘Karen I am glad you are back, where have you been!’” 

She noted, “The close interactions we have with our patients really make a difference in their lives and you connect deeply with them and their families.”

Carter has been a nurse for 24 years. She is currently working in a Medical-Surgical Telemetry Unit. Although she didn’t become a “teacher,” education has played a key role in what she does as a nurse with her patients, and most recently as an Adjunct Professor at a local community college where she is training the next generation of nurses.

“I tell my students nursing is a special profession because we have a lot of responsibility when you have someone’s life is in your hands. Patients count on you for so much. You are their first and last line of defense.” She continued. “You take an oath to care for your patients, you are an educator and counselor that offers guidance. Nurses advocate for patients to receive individualized holistic care. It is not just about physical illness and disease. But we have to take care of our patients mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”.

Continuous education and learning are a big part of Carter’s life. She recently went back to school and earned a master’s degree and plans to become a nurse practitioner after she passes her boards. Once certified she looks forward to working in geriatrics or women’s health. “I really like working with women and providing health education.”

This same passion and dedication to the field has also led her to serve fellow nurses as a steward and treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors for JNESO. “I live to advocate for my patients as well as my fellow nurses” 

Carter noted that even though she may have started off wanting to be a teacher she ended up right where she belongs.  

“I love to educate and advocate. I love working with my patients. I love helping others. I feel like God puts you where he wants you to be, and I really love what I do. I love being a nurse!”

Life has a funny way of making dreams come true.