Lessons from Kelly L. Wiltse Nicely, PhD, CRNA

Educational Landscapes

Kelly L. Wiltse Nicely, PhD, CRNA is program director for the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, DNP Program and educator director on the board of directors for the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. In this episode Kelly talks about her journey from rural Michigan in which access to the healthcare system meant folks left their community and didn't have their social support systems with them through to lead a successful DNP program that is built with the idea of community; building clinical sites and a program with the idea of meeting our community's needs. Kelly's words of wisdom include "find yourself in a place where you get to be comfortable being uncomfortable. You can do more than you realize and find those people that can see your potential, who will cheer you on, who will open doors for you. Those mentors are priceless, and they will help you realize all of the dreams that you want to realize. And also know that those dreams will change, and it's okay that they change. And go with what your passion is, go with what's going to make you happy because this life is too short and your work days are too long to not enjoy what you do." and "I always recommend finding the most accomplished people you can to join your team and then make it your mission to provide them with the resources and support to do the things that they love. If people love what they do, they're going to want to spend time doing it, they're going to want to spend time with their colleagues teaching them and helping them learn and grow. And then you'll find that the work that you're doing, you're able to do it better, faster, stronger."

Resources

• International Association for the Study of Pain