Amanda Stamenkovich, From College Student to RN

On November 5, 2021, I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Stamenkovich, a registered nurse currently employed by Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Old Dominion University, and was quickly propelled into a career dedicated to bettering the lives of those in need. 

For Amanda, nursing was not a last-minute decision. Such dreams had been in the back of her mind since middle school, and only intensified after shadowing her best friend’s mother in the emergency department. From IV starts to EKGs, Stamenkovich was exposed to a wide variety of techniques that would soon come in handy. Unfortunately, in the midst of the internship, her father had fallen ill and ended up in the hospital for months following his admission. In the months following his admission, she learned how to care for his abdominal wounds and change his colostomy, a plastic bag that collects fecal matter from the abdomen. Despite the tedious nature of such activities, they solidified her desire to not only receive a degree in nursing, but also help individuals who are unable to care for themselves.

After graduating high school, Stamenkovich entered Old Dominion University through its guaranteed entry program, which gave her a distinct advantage when applying to the nursing program. As a former member of the health professions living learning community, her first year of college was composed of classes such as statistics, chemistry, sociology, interpreting the American past, and English composition. Before her sophomore year, she took anatomy and physiology through Tidewater Community College, a decision that gave her a head start in the early stages of her nursing career. 

Stamenkovich’s junior year was nothing short of a culture shock. Transitioning from a broad spectrum of learning to specialized topics was, in her eyes, quite surprising. In many ways, these classes required reprogramming the mind, thus resulting in new study techniques and ways of thinking. Her favorite class, health assessment, taught her how to perform physical evaluations and basic nurse-to-patient interactions.  Just over a year later, Stamencovich graduated the university with a BSN and went on to assist the residents of Norfolk, Virginia. 

According to Stamenkovich, the two most important responsibilities of being a nurse is to not only advocate for your patient(s), but stress the safety of residents and coworkers alike. Stamenkovich emphasizes the sanctity of such tasks, stating, 

“You are administering medications, so you are responsible for knowing what you’re giving as well as the effects of the medication the patient is receiving. While it’s important to remember that their life is in your hands, you also have to know your limits of practice.” 

Luckily, nursing is an interdisciplinary field, composed of individuals who are willing to do anything and everything to make sure that their patient is well cared for. In order to ensure patient safety, nurses are able to request assistance from other health care professionals if they aren’t familiar with the diagnosis at hand. This, along with team collaboration, creates a sense of unity among nurses and assists in the formation of strong work relationships. 

Despite the amount of stress that goes into nursing, it is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling career to possess. Sometimes, simply making a patient smile or providing some level of comfort to hospital residents is enough to evoke a sense of fulfillment in the hearts of nurses.  Of course, there are days in which a patient’s state of health is out of their control, an obstacle that  can be incredibly difficult to process. Although these experiences are painful, Stamenkovich believes that they provide a fruitful learning experience and make her stronger in the end. She describes it best, claiming, 

“I feel like it helps you grow and get through these crazy situations, but after it’s over I need time to sit and reflect before I move on to the next patient.”

Although going into healthcare isn’t an easy task, it’s one of the most rewarding fields an individual can pursue. The ability to advocate for others and be a member of a strong, selfless group of people is incredibly worthwhile, and definitely a one of a kind experience. While nursing is a fairly popular occupation, there are a multitude of paths available to students who want to make a difference in the lives of others. If you are questioning your field of study, Stomenkovich advises to not immediately abdicate from the healthcare umbrella, as there are many ways to give back and care for those in need. 

Conversing with Amanda Stamenkovich has opened my eyes to the physical and emotional complexities of nursing, as well as how healthcare professionals interact with patients on a day to day basis. The strong, uplifting community nurses create is unlike anything I’ve heard before, and makes me excited for what’s in store over the next couple of years. Overall, Amanda possesses an incredible story riddled with resilience, adaptability, and personal growth, one that I will definitely remember for years to come.