Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Barnes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Danielle, appreciate you joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I was in my last semester of nursing school, and I was really excited about graduating and starting my career as a nurse. Many of my classmates were applying to the same hospital, and I was looking forward to continuing to start my nursing journey with some familiar people. We’d gone through 5 challenging semesters of nursing school together, so many of my classmates were like family to me. About a month before graduation, I interviewed for a job and felt confident about it. I knew the job was mine. I was notified by the hospital that I didn’t get the job. I was SO devastated. I felt like a failure; most of my classmates already had jobs lined up, and I was still unsure about what I was going to do. I prayed about it and continued to enjoy my graduation weekend with my amazing family and friends.

Fast forward to the next week, and I had another interview with another hospital. I had a clinical rotation there during my 3rd semester of nursing school and loved it. When I had my interview, it just felt different. I felt so much peace. Two days later, they offered me the job and I quickly realized that it was exactly what I wanted. I ended up working at that hospital for 4 years and absolutely LOVED it. It was the best first nursing job EVER. I couldn’t imagine starting my career anywhere else. Through all of that, I learned that God knows what you need, even if it’s not what you think you want.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have ALWAYS loved helping people. I know that’s cliche, but for me , it’s 100% true. Growing up, I used to visit elderly relatives with my parents and I’d use my toy medical kit and “help them feel better.” I have been in the nursing world since 2009. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and in 2017, I graduated with my Master of Science in Nursing. I have been working as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2017. I work in Primary Care, and I love my patients! I am also a Certified Health Coach, and my goal is to empower women to embrace a heathy body and radiant soul. I am also a part-time Clinical Instructor for nursing students. Giving back to the nursing profession is something that I enjoy. I remember my instructors who were so encouraging and supportive to me in my journey, and I want to be that for our future nurses.

I am most proud of my resilience. Burnout is real, and I have had my days where I’ve questioned if healthcare is for me anymore. These last 2 years have been challenging, but even in these unprecedented times, I am proud to be a healthcare provider! I believe that I’m graced to do what I do on a daily basis. Challenges are going to come, but I have to remain confident that I am more than able to do this. I’m so thankful for my family and friends who have always supported, encouraged, and prayed for me all of these years!

I want people to know that my overall brand is simple. Health, optimism, and faith. I am a fun and outgoing person! I’m passionate about people and educating people about their overall health and well-being.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Absolutely.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Nursing has always been one of those careers where people will say, “You can always get a job…” Many times, when I would talk about things I wanted to do that was not related to nursing directly, I was discouraged from pursuing it, because “I already had a good job.” One thing that I’ve had to unlearn is that I’m not just a nurse or nurse practitioner. I believe that God has graced all of us with different gifts and talents and we shouldn’t be discouraged from pursuing those things…even if it’s not related to our “job.” One specific example was when I was thinking about writing a book. Some told me that I was an “overachiever” and that I was “doing too much.” My family and friends supported me and encouraged me and I released my devotional in 2019. It was then that I realized that I’m more than “just a nurse,” and will never be discouraged from pursuing other dreams and aspirations again!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ali.danielle
• Facebook: Danielle Barnes

Image Credits
Shuneil Gadson