Hi!  I’m Janelle,
AKA Viva Nurse

Navigating through higher learning institutions was uncharted territory for anyone in my family. As the first to enter college, I felt an immense pressure to succeed and set a precedent for my family. My academic journey through a nonexistent path meant stumbling several times before making headway towards my goal: a nursing degree. I went from a successful high school scholar to a disoriented college student unsure of the career to pursue as I changed from a biology major to kinesiology major. Being lost was a common sensation due to being clearly unaware of the resources available to first generation students.

It wasn’t until 2017 that I endured the passing of my grandmother, the birth of a baby sister, a young friend who passed away from cancer, and my mother, who had relocated to New Mexico, in need of a pacemaker. These experiences placed me on the front line to the psychology of different age groups where I learned more about my growing passion for caregiving. Without hesitation, I changed my career path to nursing and was fortunate to have courses directly translated into the pre-nursing roadmap. It took me 5 years after graduating high school to discover this newfound passion for become a nurse.

The struggles as a freshman college student are not uncommon. Many colleagues that I have met through nursing school had similar experiences of delayed education due to various situations. Most did not get direct guidance throughout high school into college, while some did not have financial support or other socioeconomic roadblocks. That is why I created Viva Nurse. I am here as a mentor to help students explore the world of healthcare with emphasis on nursing.