Meet Jess Walters, RN- Licensed Nurse for ABC Home Healthcare Professionals
I sta
rted working for ABC as a homemaker when I was 18. I always worked retail part-time through college while I was working on my writing degree. When the store I was working at closed, I went looking for another job while I finished school. I applied for a homemaker position with ABC not even knowing I had any interest in healthcare. A few short months after working for ABC, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. Working under the nurses at ABC changed my vision entirely of what I wanted to be and what I wanted to do with my life. Seeing the nurses at ABC care for their clients and act as strong advocates for them was truly an inspiration. I watched as the nurses fostered relationships with our clients and brightened their day- even with something so simple as a phone call to check-in! I remember thinking “Wow, I want to be like them!” Our nurses served as role models for me and I credit them for sparking my love for nursing and healthcare. I saw how passionate they were about caring for people and how impactful their work is and that’s when I knew…nursing was my calling.
I completed my bachelor’s degree program in writing at Salem State and then I accepted a full-time position with ABC Home Healthcare Professionals as a Client Care Coordinator after graduation. Once I was working in the office, I worked even closer with Clare and Jeannette and the other nurses at ABC; and I still wanted to be just like them. I saw how their eyes lit up when talking about being a nurse and how much they loved their job. I later heard an advertisement on the radio about a nursing program that allowed individuals with a degree in a different discipline to apply to be enrolled in a program for a second bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
It was divine timing- I applied immediately. I remember running into the office telling Jeannette (Sheehan, Family Nurse Practitioner and Founder of ABC) how excited I was about this opportunity and she was just as excited for me. I knew this was my chance to finally do what I really wanted to do. Though completing the accelerated nursing program was a challenge to say the least, I continued to work for ABC as a Client Care Coordinator. The love and support I had from my peers and management at the agency was remarkable. They pushed me to do my very best and celebrated with me at the end of my journey. My co-workers at ABC became my family- not just people I worked with.
Fast forward and now, I’m a Registered Nurse! Not only have I realized my goal of becoming a licensed RN but I am still working for ABC and doing what I love. I never would have found my love for nursing if it were not for taking that part-time homemaker position six years ago. Looking back, that was one of the best decisions of my life, and I am so thankful for my family here at ABC. I love my job, I love what I do, and I love being a part of this amazing team at ABC Home Healthcare.
