Hannah Deanes

Hi! Welcome to my Merit Page. I am super excited to now be recognized and able to show my accomplishments/journey more publicly! If I can do it, you can do it. Here's a little more about me! As a senior in high school I was accepted into a career pathways consortium program through Blue Ridge Community College, which allowed me to get a jump start on pre requisite classes for the nursing program (for free!) and I was able to graduate from high school with an advanced diploma a semester early. Growing up, I had this huge desire in my heart to make a difference in the world. I knew that God had put in my heart the passion that I have to selflessly care for people who cannot care for themselves. As I got older, I started to discover the light I have within me. Now working in the hospital, patients have referred to me as a little ray of sunshine. Makes sense, huh? :) I carried the passion in my heart and continued through school studying for Registered Nurse, ADN at Blue Ridge Community College. With perfect grades in all of the pre requisite classes, I was informed that I did not get accepted the first time that I applied. I then studied medical coding and billing because I knew one day I may want to work from home in that field part time. The time came to apply to nursing school again, with all of the nerves and tears flying, I was accepted and it was the hardest, most beautiful journey of my life. During that journey, I managed to work three twelve hour shifts each week, (yes, full time keeping the benefits). There were times I cried, felt overwhelmed, and questioned my decisions but I kept my eyes on Jesus and pictured myself working daily as the best nurse that I could be. I started as a front office assistant at MedExpress Urgent Care but knew the dream was to work at UVA medical center so I applied over and over again for about five months and finally got a call to interview for a patient care technician position. Little did I know I would be accepting a positon on the best unit I could have ever asked for with professional nurses that guided me and inspired me to keep studying, I was going to have a little orange RN badge just like them in no time. Did I mention the patient care technician position literally had me sweating and running around like crazy, but was one of the best opportunities I have ever received. If you are a CNA, PCT, PCA, and you are reading this... YOU make a difference, you are important, without you, the nurse would be struggling that much more. Have the desire to become an RN? Do it! With the skills you have learned as far as time management and building patient relationships, you will make an amazing nurse! With the Grace of God, a whole lot of coffee, my parents wiping my tears, puppy, Claire, sensing my emotional instability and cuddling me through the hard times, I MADE IT THROUGH NURSING SCHOOL. Crying, once again, on stage as we all had our pinning ceremonies, the hard work was done, (for now) and we could all breathe (for the moment) The NCLEX exam was a struggle for me. I have never had a problem with testing anxiety but I had so much riding on that one exam and I put way too much pressure on myself. When I realized, its just a test, I have got this, I am smart, I made it through school, I have what it takes.. I took some deep breathes, talked to Jesus, and finally passed. It didn't feel like real life, but that was the moment that it all started to sink it, no more telling my patients that I am going to go get the nurse... I am THE nurse. I now have the privilege of walking into the University of Virginia Medical Center hospital doors and I wear the orange badge with two letters on it. Before each shift, I pray and I walk into the shift ready to be the best nurse that I can be remembering that I was called to be in this position and that I have the power to help change someone's day, make a difference in their world. I never take the profession for granted and every shift that goes by, a patient touches my life and humbles me that much more. It is crazy how patients think we change their lives when really, they change mine. I stayed on the same unit that I worked on as a patient care technician and it has been one of the best experiences in my life. I couldn't be more thankful for all of the love and support that I have. If YOU are reading this, thank you and I love all of you! I study at Murphy Deming- College of Health Sciences through Mary Baldwin University now part time for Bachelors of Science in nursing with a plan to start taking more courses in order to graduate earlier and start working on a Nurse Practicioner degree from the University of Virginia. I love working with the adult GI population, but have always had a place in my heart to work with children. I plan to specialize in pediatrics. I am also enrolled in Nurse Residency through the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit more about this journey of mine! I hope you enjoyed and I hope through my experiences, I have inspired you to keep going, through hard work and Jesus, this is possible, all things are possible. "I attribute my success to this- I never gave or took any excuse." - Florence Nightingale