We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sherri Mcneil. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sherri below.
Sherri, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share an anecdote or story from your schooling/training that you feel illustrates what the overall experience was like?
I call myself Every Step Nurse because I’ve taken every step in the nursing journey to reach where I am today. I started as a CNA, became an LPN, then an RN, and now I’m in nurse practitioner school. When I was an LPN, I completed the LPN-to-RN bridge program, and I’m so glad I took the scenic route. It shaped me into the nurse I am today. The skills I gained as an LPN have become a vital part of my everyday nursing practice. Becoming an RN opened doors to more opportunities in healthcare. Now, as I work toward becoming a nurse practitioner, I look forward to providing care to my patients on an even deeper level.
Sherri, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started my page with the goal of inspiring nurses and future nursing students during a time when the world was uncertain about the healthcare system and everything else due to the pandemic in 2020. The page became an outlet for me to reconnect with the joy of nursing on a different level, especially as we faced COVID-19 every day. As I grew the page, I began connecting with nurses from across the country and even around the world, sharing experiences and challenges.
Through social media, I met my business partner Laina ( IG: Theenomadnurse) and together we decided to create affirmation cards specifically for Black and Brown nurses. We felt this was something much needed in our community, as we realized the disparities and unique struggles that Black and Brown nurses face. Our goal was to uplift and encourage them through these affirmations.
We also developed a PRN guidebook to help nurses achieve a better work-life balance by choosing PRN roles. In addition to that, I have a passion for mentoring nursing students.
My mission is to empower nurses to thrive both professionally and personally.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My e-book, *My Steps to Nursing Success*, is a testament to resilience. In it, I share my personal journey as a young mother, facing the devastating loss of a loved one to gun violence and overcoming unhealthy relationships. Despite being a part of these statistics, I was determined that my children would not follow the same path. That drive for success pushed me to create a new path, not just for myself but for them as well.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Absolutely not! I truly love being a nurse. As I advance my education to become a psych nurse practitioner, I’m excited about the opportunity to help more people struggling with mental health issues. My goal is to one day open my own practice, so please keep me in your thoughts and check back with me in 5-10 years to see the progress!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.everystepnurse.com
- Instagram: Everystepnurse
- Twitter: Everystepnurse
Image Credits
Luis Cuevas