Born To Be a Nurse: “Take Life By Its Ways and Follow It,” Says Felicia Andrade, Registered Nursing Student

Felicia Andrade was the first person on both sides of her family to graduate both high school and college. She has five children aged six to 27. She just turned 44 this month, works a full-time job at the San Joaquin Valley Rehab Hospital in Fresno as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, attended Clovis Adult Education and continued further education at Fresno City College and obtained her associate degree in Pre-Allied RN Nursing. Felicia graduated at the top of her class and achieved being on the Dean’s List with Honors. She will be completing the Registered Nursing program at SJVC’s Visalia campus this December. And if that isn’t enough, she is the Treasurer for the SJVC Student Body Government; AND to be inducted into the OADN Nursing Honor Society, she participated in a community project called “Happy Feet” to provide invaluable foot care education and supplies to the homeless. When asked “How do you do it?!” she replies, “I love what I do. It gives me joy to take care of other people. It gives me energy.”

This is the story of someone who has simply followed her life where it led her, open to the things that moved her and what she cared about. And when it got tough, as it inevitably does, she would remind herself what she was doing it all for, and who she was doing it for. And with a genuine nurturing spirit, she always found her joy and energy in the warm, appreciative response – and the progress – of those she cared for.

When did you decide you wanted to be a nurse?

Growing up, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher! But my great-grandma got sick and there was no one to take care of her except me. I was 17 or 18 at the time. I felt the gratitude and compassion I had for her and loved what I was doing. I didn’t think anything much of it during high school; then someone told me I could probably get a CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) certificate with my experience, so I took a course at a tech school. While doing a clinical for it I was hired on the spot.

And that started you down the path?

Well, yes, the job that hired me on the spot was the continuation of my journey. I soon had found my passion, “Caring for people”. I practically grew up at Hypana, now known as Oakwood Gardens Living Center. Life started happening; I started a family, and I worked full time at Hypana Convalescent Home in Fresno for 19 years of my life: first as a CNA, then a Restorative Nursing Assistant, and then as a Wound Care Nurse Supervisor.

And what followed?

I knew I wanted to specialize as a Wound Care Nurse and teach at a nursing school or maybe even travel and teach during that time, so I pursued pre-requisites at Fresno City College. The last were zoom classes because of COVID. I eventually got an associate degree in Pre-allied Registered Nursing and was on the Dean’s List – that added to my current license as an LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse). Which meant I could eventually transfer that to a Registered Nurse.

You were on your way.

Yes, but I didn’t make the lottery for the RN program. I was bummed at the rejection. I took a break and became a full-time mom for the rest of the pandemic. Then I went back and worked as an LVN at the SJV Hospital. I eventually got over the hump about the rejection and gave it another shot. I got into some other schools, but they were expensive, and I needed to do more pre-reqs. About half-way through that I got a call from SJVC, whom I had contacted before, telling me they were starting a new cohort and would I like to test for it. I took the test, passed and the rest is history.

And it certainly appears you are a natural student: a nominee for the OADN (Organization for Associate Degree Nursing) of the Visalia chapter of the Theta Theta Honor Society at SJVC…

I admit studying gives me a rush. I’m anal about making good grades!

Is there any particular area of nursing you especially love?

Yes. My passion is wound care. I’ve always been interested in it, and I’d like to teach it some day.

How did you discover that?

When I was working at the Oakwood Gardens, I was too nervous to do it because all the nurses before me had gotten fired. But my DON (Director of Nursing) convinced me to try it. And I fell in love. I could do it anywhere; I think it would give me a wide horizon. I could teach it, go all over the world.

What a great goal! You are a natural achiever. But is there anything you find difficult or challenging about your life?

Of course. We all have those moments. When life seems down, that’s when I realize I must meet the challenge and pick myself back up and not give up. I remind myself what I’m doing it for, and who I’m doing it for. And then I find my nurturing spirit again. Sometimes just seeing the look on the face of a patient who’s come to visit me to show me their progress reminds me why I do it.

You clearly are an inspiration to others. Do you have any advice for the readers of this article who are looking to choose nursing as their career?

Yes. Take your life as it presents itself and follow it. Don’t ever give up on your dreams. Just keep following.

I just have to ask one more question: I understand, among all these achievements so far, you are also Treasurer for the SJVC Student Body Government. I’m just curious: do you also have a personal interest in financial matters? Or – why would you volunteer for that particular job?

(She laughs) Yes, well, I’m the budgenista! I’m the perfect person to have that role – because I have five kids!