When Kailey Doty, ’23 started the undergraduate nursing program at Loma Linda University School of Nursing at the height of the pandemic she knew she was in for a unique challenge. But she learned quickly that she was not alone in her nursing journey and that she had a support system that stretch from the front of the classroom to the seats on either side of her. Kailey cites that her peers were a big part of surviving and thriving in the program, saying, “Nursing school offers a distinct experience, understood best by those in trenches beside you, navigating it firsthand. The friendships made during this time are special; its like having another family made up of people going through the same tough stuff as you.”
The early origins of Kailey’s nursing journey actually stem from a health scare she had as a child, she explains, “Nursing has been my passion since childhood. My early encounter with bacterial meningitis profoundly influenced me after hearing my parents’ stories and witnessing their challenges. I became fascinated with the medical field.”
Once she was started as a student in the nursing program, Kailey found the support of the faculty to be a tremendous asset to her journey, saying, “Throughout the program I always felt genuinely supported by the faculty and that they really wanted the best for me and my classmates.” Doty feels that the mentorship offered during her transition into the workforce was a vital asset to her success. “I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors and preceptors during nursing school and through the new grad program who have significantly shaped my perspective and guided me.” This guidance also put into perspective the kind of nurse she wanted to be, which she described, saying, “Apart from being skilled and competent, my desire is to embody compassion as a nurse. Nurse burnout is real, and I’m committed to never becoming complacent. I want to do what I need to do outside of work so that when I come into work I can be the best nurse for my patients.”
Another area that Kailey found growth in while at LLUSN was her spiritual walk, citing the influence from her professors as profoundly preparing her to support her patients as well as herself. Kailey said, “My professors were there to help and pray with me when things got hard. It surprised me how much I changed spiritually. Now I can offer prayers to my patients, something I couldn’t do before.” She points to this as one way she has become more well rounded as a nurse, benefitting her on both a personal and professional level.
One thing that significantly impacted Kailey’s spiritual walk as a student was the experiences she had participating in international mission trips offered by Loma Linda University. “Not only did [the mission trips] lead me back to Christ and going to church, but I also got to see and do things most nursing students don’t get to experience, all while seeing the beauty of other countries.” Doty quickly became a proponent for student mission trip experience, saying “They take you out of your comfort zone and teach you about diseases we might not typically experience here in the states. I always came back refreshed and ready to take on the next quarter and maybe even apply what I learned on a trip.”
While she was a student Kailey was also a recipient of the prestigious Daisy Award that is given to nurses to recognize excellent care and service in their profession. “This is an award that all nurses talk about and strive for and to receive it before even starting my career as a nurse was truly amazing. It was certainly confirmation that our actions really do make a difference no matter how small.”
Doty points to a healthy balance being the key to what helped her succeed as a student and now as a nursing professional, saying “There are times when it gets hard, but you must remember your why. You can’t give your best when you aren’t feeling your best. You have to find that balance in nursing school so that when you transition into nursing practice you don’t get burned out.”
It has been a year since graduating and Kailey is working in the Pediatric ICU at Loma Linda Medical Center and finding true fulfillment in her work. “Getting to work with these kiddos and their parents during the most difficult times in their lives is very rewarding and I honestly couldn’t picture myself anywhere else.” Doty finds satisfaction in seeing the journey of her patients’ recovery, saying “The most meaningful part for me is seeing the kids improve and getting to build a relationship with them and their families. I go into every shift with the mindset that if I can just make their ICU stay a little bit easier, I have succeeded.”