Angela Rapids, BSN, RN

Inspired by a dear friend who had reached the end of her life experience at the age of 93, I returned to college seeking a degree in nursing after a fruitful career as a writer, wife and mother.  I knew what had driven me 30 years prior to assist in the care of the elderly was still a deeply rooted life calling. Passionate about end of life palliative and hospice care, I have completed an Associate of Science degree in nursing at Germanna Community College.  I am now working to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Old Dominion Univeristy with emphasis on geriatrics and wound care. Future goals include pursuing a Master of Science degree in acute/chronic geriatrics and nursing education.

Personal

I am married to my husband of 16 years who is a software architect (and a bit of a mad genius of I toot his horn a little). Between us we have three daughters age 33, 22, 25, and a son, age 14. My eldest daughter and I graduated nursing school together, took the NCLEX together, and are very proud of one another.

I was a surrogate mother in 1995 and have an incredible relationship with the young man who was a result of that pregnancy. His mother and I set the legal precedent in the state of Georgia for a non-family surrogate birth and adoption. He was one of 7 implant embryos that had been thawed for the procedure, with 5 remaining viable after thaw. He was in the early term of the pregnancy one of two fetuses to implant but by the twelfth week the second fetus had met its demise and eventually absorbed.

I was born in South Carolina, grew up in Georgia, and only came to Virginia in 2004. Only now am I beginning to feel that Virginia is home. I may soon begin to refer to myself as a Virginian. We have a tiny little farmette in Orange County where we raise a few chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, horses and German Shepherds. Life at home keeps us busy.

Hobbies

I love to cook, can, garden sew, quilt, embroider, and other craft that catches my fancy. I owe my love textiles to my grandmother and my mother.

Career

I spent the first years of my young adult life working int he nursing home industry where I fell in love with geriatric aged population. I have always had a good connection with the elderly and feel comfortable working with them. I spent a number of years of a writer. I did reviews, marketing materials, and odd and end free lance work.  While my children were young this worked out great and allowed me to maintain any number of part-time jobs that drew my interest at the time such as substitute teaching and driving a school bus, to working int he printing industry. I have had a productive adulthood and met many people along the way. Nursing is a second career later in life and is a calling I owe mostly to the influence of my Grandmother.

Future Plans

I would like to continue my educational career and plan to seek a MSN degree as well as a DNP degree at ODU.

Introduction Video

Reference

Rapids, A., September, 2020, Angie Rapids Introduction [Video], YouTube, https://youtu.be/zvt6Sx-mfc8