Lauren Brady

Background

About Lauren Brady

I am a recent graduate of the University of Virginia Direct Entry Master's Clinical Nurse Leader Program as of May. As a second-degree nurse, I envision a bedside role where I can blend my interests of palliative and compassionate care with critical thinking and innovation. Humility, dignity, and healing are fundamental to my career as a new graduate nurse and I would love to work for an employer that shares these values. I am looking for a registered nurse position in a high-acuity, academic medical facility that will foster peer learning and provide support as I transition from graduate to new nurse. My passion for nursing comes from my experience as a research specialist. I recognized it was not enough to just identify needs and protocols for treatments but rather make a larger impact in the lives of people in need as part of a collaborative clinical team. As a volunteer in Honduras, it became quite apparent how powerful the nursing role can be at its greatest capacity. I served in the clinic as well as in the homes of underserved communities or chronically ill individuals. These communities welcomed preventative and comfort medicine outside of the hospital walls. This kind of healing is often the hardest to find, but perhaps the most important in mending our current health care system. I have extended these skills in home care and compassion to multiple settings. As a home health caretaker, I learned the frustrations of deteriorating mental and physical health of Alzheimer's patients and the emotional support needed for hospice patients. As a student, I translated these skills in a different way in the Surgical-Trauma-Burn ICU where I completed my senior capstone project and clinical practicum. During this time, I helped introduce a novel algorithm for managing pain and anxiety during procedural burn and wound care using a non-opioid alternative. I am excited to see where my nursing journey takes me next.