I started off in a lab drawing blood. I loved it. I loved the patient
interaction. From there, I kind of just helped out in all areas. She would help
out in our medical...the clinical area... helping way, measure room, taking initial
histories. I helped out on a phone. So I wound up working the front office
answering phones, helping to check patient's in. I found her always to be
helpful, engaged, persistent, hardworking, and she had a great attitude.
While I was pregnant with my last son, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
I just went through Katrina. Pretty much homeless, like those people in New
Orleans. Being pregnant and diagnosed with cancer I just thought it was the
end. I had to wait until I had my son to start treatment. Six weeks after I had
him, I went in for testing. Multiple testing and after that I had chemo and
radiation. One day sitting, watching the nurses, you know, they were all busy
around me helping patients, and I was...I said to myself, "if I ever had that
opportunity to get well enough to go back to school, I would. And I would want
to be a nurse." So I wind up...as soon as I was able to, as soon as I got the OK from
my doctor, I enrolled in night school at Delgado. I took classes at Delgado
did my prerequisites and everything there. So I would work in the day time and
then at night I would go to class. I went to a Pearl River Community College they
had a nursing program. At that point, I said okay we'll work around your
schedule or make it happen but you have to make all A's. I said and you have to
bring your grades to me to see every semester. After Katrina I started working
in transplant and I was really a receptionist. Again, I was working part -time here at Ochsner.
So I would literally drive an hour and a half to school every day.
When we had clinicals, our clinicals were in Hattisburg.
So that's like a two-hour drive. So we started this whole thing and, of course,
the whole team has always been very supportive of Keiva and what she
wants to do and how she wants to grow. But I've been a big fan of Keiva.
I think what what motivated me most was my kids. I have three boys so I always
wanted them to...
When I graduated, I know... I did everything I needed. I knew I was
getting my degree, but it was more for my kids. For them to see me walk
across the stage.
Just seeing her go from being an MA, to getting her education, to becoming a
nurse, to becoming a manager. She's just going on through life doing a fabulous
job. Serving as a role model to her children, to her family, and really to
those around her. And she's an inspiration to me to do all the better
and just to keep going in spite of whatever may be along the way.
She has taught me a lot there are many days, as you can imagine, that I go,
like, I really have to do this?And I think of people like her.
I think of her. I said, like, no, I know she would just get up and do it. Back in '17
you know Ochsner started with the Chamberland School of Nursing. I always
wanted to go back for my Bachelor's and so I thought that was a good opportunity.
So I enrolled in the classes and I just completed that program in March. This
year 2019. I feel that this is what Ochsner is about. I think you're not only
allowed to grow, but encouraged to grow. And that is I think extremely
important. You know they want to go back to school they want to do whatever.
You know we're there to support them we will work around it. They don't have to bring
their report cards either there's so many opportunities with Ochsner. I guess
that's why I stayed so long. I've always thought about is it just the job or is
it more? And I appreciate the family I have here.