Devin Klaserner

Background

About Devin Klaserner

I am a threepeat degree earner and a second-career nurse who fell in love with patient care on day one of this new career path. I have always been people-oriented, but found myself dissatisfied in my previous work. Caring for others during their time of illness has not only been eye-opening, but also rewarding beyond measure. I am thankful daily for the people whose lives I touch and for the connections I build while caring for them. While a second-career nurse is not uncommon, it was a path I never felt that I was meant for. I first earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with the intention of attending medical school. Upon graduation, I was burnt out, unhappy, and lost my sense of direction. An opportunity arose within the biology department at my alma mater, bringing me into the field of academia. While my work was mostly behind the scenes, the bonds formed with students, instructors, and professors drove my desire to continue my own education, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and almost another in social work prior to the COVID pandemic. It was during this time of immense need that I saw a new path open – nursing. I left academia and from the first day, I knew that I had found my calling. Nearly five years later, my only regret is having not started sooner. They say, “when you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and I agree fully. I bring my best and most caring self to work every day for my patients. Working as a nurse aide through nursing school, I believe, made me a better RN. I never lost sight of the fact that patients’ basic needs have to be met before I can ever hope to help them heal. Not only do I focus on my patients’ needs, but also the needs of my coworkers. As a person who often finds himself leading, taking on a charge nurse role early in my nursing career really supported the belief that I am where I was meant to be. Additionally, I was selected as Rookie of the Year for the entire hospital system in which I work. This, along with multiple Daisy nominations, continues to inspire me on this journey. In order to best prepare myself for leadership roles, I am back in school to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as a master’s degree in nursing with a focus in leadership and management. I have short-term aspirations to become a unit manager, but long term, I believe that the sky is the limit! From starting as a nurse aide, to becoming a registered nurse, and now working in a charge nurse role, I can utilize what I learned in those roles to become a better leader for a team in the future.