Finding her purpose

Serina’s life and career changed the moment her young son got sick.

The former finance manager, who moved to the U.S. from Liberia, rushed her son to the hospital when he wouldn’t wake up from a nap. A few hours later, he was on a ventilator. Terrified, Serina watched as nurses cared for her baby – and supported her.

“The nurses were just so caring and encouraging,” says Serina. “I thought, ‘This is something I want to do in the future.’”

Empowering patients

Serina enrolled in a nursing program and immediately knew she found her calling. Today, she cares for patients who have everything from diabetes to heart problems.

“I like the interpersonal relationships nurses have with patients,” she says. “One of my favorite things as a nurse is to teach my patients about how to prevent whatever brought them to the hospital from happening again. Then, they feel empowered that they can control the outcome.”

At times, Serina also cares for COVID-19 patients and serves as a calming voice for patients’ friends and family members.

“Family members are stressed because they’re not seeing their family,” Serina says. “I call them and let them know what’s going on. We want family members to be reassured the patient is OK.”

Leading the way

A mentor to nurses throughout the medical center, Serina is studying for her doctorate to give back to the profession that has given her so much and to inspire future nurses, just as the ones who cared for her son 19 years ago inspired her.