About Me
Hi, my name is Julia and I am a 2
7 year old living in the “great” city of Springfield, MO. I graduated with my Associate in Nursing degree in 2006 and began my career in a local Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit. While working full-time and trying to excel I was going to school full-time taking online classes to obtain my Bachelor of Nursing. In the midst of school I was a preceptor, charge nurse and leader in the unit. I never thought I would want to leave the bedside, this was my passion, or so I thought.
In the 4 years I worked in the unit I worked with several brain dead, organ donors. This is not a patient population you receive any education about while in nursing school. In working with these patients and families I grew a huge passion and drive to make this process smoother and easier for everyone involved. I was a donation champion of sorts; involved in committees and education.
In November 2009, Mid-America Transplant Services (Organ Procurement Organization) opened the first RN (Organ Procurement Coordinator) position ever for the Springfield area. I was so excited; I put in my application the day it was available to the public. I went through 3 interviews, management restructuring, another interview and finally got offered the position in January 2010. My first day was January 25th. Training consists of driving every other week to St Louis. The company is based in the downtown St Louis area. I will be taking 15 24 hour on-call shifts a month and my position is being developed as we go. I am in the beginning stages of something amazing for Springfield and the surrounding areas. Helping make the process of organ donation smoother and more efficient.
In the past month I have had time to actually think about what it is I want to accomplish in my life. The first is being the best I can be in my new position; I want to make this more than what it was ever imagined to be. The second is my desire to venture into Philanthropy; I feel I have more to offer to others then just my career path. Thirdly I would like to eventually become a Forensic Nurse Death Investigator but this is a little further down the line. All this in combination with the fact that I have an exercise goal once this work training is over. I want to start spinning 3 times a week and strength training twice a week plus add in some hot yoga and cardio kickboxing. That puts me in the gym 1-2 times a day, yes that’s right a day. I also want to start training on my bike. I know, it’s a lot to accomplish.
My blog is about my experiences in donation, philanthropy, career advancement and physical empowerment. I hope to reach people but it is more about just telling my story.
On a more personal note. I have been married since May 2004. He is my cheering squad, along with my family and friends. He is very excited about everything I am wanting to do and is helping me in any way he can.
His name is Chris and he is an internet business owner venturing into is own adventure of entrepreneurship. He owns a printing company, GreatFX Business Cards. He has accomplished great things since his start in 2004. Together we are quite the ambitious team. Our children, for the time being, are a pug named Sugarbear and a cat named Chelsea. They are very sweet but can be a handful sometimes, life would be empty without them.