From Campbell to Dream Nursing Career
Name: Kerissa Lane, RN
Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Graduation Year: 2021
Can you share the story of how you landed your dream job in nursing?
I began interviewing for jobs in January/February of 2021. I knew I wanted to work with kids, so I applied to every pediatric position I could find. No luck. The positions were filled by students who precepted on the floor. I started to get discouraged and came to the conclusion that I was not going to land my dream job. In March of 2021, I received an offer letter from WakeMed Surgical-Trauma ICU. Sounded interesting enough…so I ALMOST signed it. In that moment it dawned on me, “why would I settle for a job I don’t love?”
I tried to convince myself it was worth it because everyone in my class was getting offers and I felt like I was falling behind. I remember spending the day thinking on it, and decided it was not the right fit for me. I was going to keep trying. In April, I met my neighbor for dinner in Fuquay. She had asked me if her friend could come after she got off work. Well of course, the more the merrier right? Her friend joined us and when she walked in, I noticed her royal blue scrubs with a printed cartoon top. We got into conversation, and I asked her where she worked. She said “PCICU at Duke!”.
Immediately I felt this rush of excitement. She had connected me with her manager who unfortunately told me they were not hiring. Once again, I felt discouraged and felt like I made a mistake not taking the STICU job. A few days later I am sitting in my parents’ kitchen when I get a text from my neighbors’ friend. It was a picture of an email address and phone number to a nurse who works in the pediatric float pool. Immediately I texted her and she helped me get set up for my interview and eventually I landed my dream job! I graduated in May of 2021 and started my job in July.
I spent three wonderful years there, learning all sorts of skills, gaining knowledge, and building connections. I eventually climbed the clinical ladder and became a CNIII, a charge nurse, and one of the main preceptors on the surgical and complex care step-down floors. I transitioned into the aesthetic field in 2023, but later returned to Campbell as a clinical instructor, allowing me to continue living out my passion for pediatric nursing while guiding students during their clinical rotations.
Campbell’s Nursing program prepared me by giving me a strong clinical foundation and the confidence to think critically in fast-paced situations.
What drew you to Nursing as a profession?
I wanted to become a nurse because I am drawn to the moments where skill and compassion can truly change someone’s confidence and well-being. My job allows me to support people in ways that are both deeply personal and incredibly impactful. Nursing feels like the perfect blend of human connection and purposeful problem solving. I am inspired by the idea that I can show up for people on their most vulnerable days, bring clarity to the chaos, and be the person who helps them feel supported.
What drew you to Campbell Nursing in particular?
I was drawn to Campbell because of the combination of strong academics, a truly supportive community, and the opportunity to learn in smaller cohorts. I remember walking onto campus on my very first tour and just feeling like it was home. I did not want to just feel like a number. I wanted my professors to know me, and I wanted to know them.
How did the Campbell Nursing program and faculty prepare you for the job you are in now?
Campbell’s Nursing program prepared me by giving me a strong clinical foundation and the confidence to think critically in fast-paced situations. My professors did not just teach skills– they challenged me to understand the ‘why’ behind every decision. The professors pushed me to be confident, detail oriented, and patient focused which are the skills I use every day in my current role.
What obstacles did you overcome to get where you are today?
I was finishing my junior year (2nd semester of nursing school) when COVID-19 shut everything down. We had to adapt fast and switch to online/hybrid learning which was a big adjustment. I learn best with hands on and having limited access to the classroom made it incredibly challenging. I think overall, being in nursing school during COVID times challenged me to a level I didn’t even know I could overcome but in the end, it made me a stronger and more adaptable nurse. It was also difficult to get a job interview for specialty nursing, like pediatrics (which was my first nursing job), because the hospitals needed all hands-on deck for COVID patients. In the end, I never settled and I networked and finally landed my dream job as a new grad which was a Pediatric Float Pool nurse. After three amazing years, I decided to change fields and go into Aesthetic Nursing, which is where I am currently (and loving it!).
What advice do you have for current nursing students?
Give yourself grace!!! You won’t be fast yet, you will have questions, you won’t know every policy or procedure. That’s normal. Your goal is progress, not perfection.
It’s okay not to feel ready. Most new grads will not feel 100% confident after orientation and that is totally okay. Competence comes with time, repetition, and mistakes you learn from. Always ask questions and advocate for yourself. You need help? Ask. You need practice on a skill? Ask. Don’t understand an order? Ask.
