School District of Lake Holcombe: Staff Spotlight
Emily Olson UWEC Nursing Student
● What three traits define you? Optimistic, Conscientious, Empathetic
● What is your personal philosophy? One of my personal philosophies that I try to practice every day is gratitude! Cultivating a mindset that regularly acknowledges the positive aspects of life. It does WONDERS for your mental health. Next time you are going through a challenging time, try it! Name 3 things you're thankful for, even if they are silly!
● What’s one thing you couldn’t live without? Post-it notes! They cover the wall space above my desk and are all over my planner.
● What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far? A challenge I faced that shaped me originated at the start of my college career. This challenge was becoming independent and navigating college as a first-generation student.
● What is the one thing you cannot resist? Mid-day naps and coffee. *A little fun fact about naps that I learned: The best time to take them is between 1-4 pm. There is also an “ideal” length of time for naps, 30 minutes is the magic number!
● What is your greatest fear? My cat running away and the deep parts of the ocean.
● Where is your favorite place to be? In my bed with my cat, Frank.
● What is your favorite thing to do? I LOVE baking and cooking! I have the best time in the kitchen.
● Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? I went to Denver CO last summer by myself and did a TON of hiking and exploring. It boosted my self-confidence and independence!
● What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had? I made pizzas at a campground for a couple of summers. I got a LOT of weird topping requests! One of them I can remember making had chicken nuggets on it and nacho cheese sauce. It was one of my favorite jobs!
● Which one would you want most – flying cars, robot housekeepers, or moon cities? I would LOVE a robot housekeeper!
● What has been the most important innovation you have witnessed in your lifetime? One of the most recent important innovations we've all seen has been the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s played a crucial role in reducing illness and death in so many people!
● Why did you choose nursing as a career? I chose it for many reasons! A few are: Desire to help others in vulnerable times. There are a wide variety of specializations. Nurses are in high demand everywhere! I like knowing my profession is stable. Nurses are needed worldwide! (one of my goals is to be a travel nurse).
● If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? I would love to be a barista in a cat café. Eau Claire is supposed to be opening one this year!
● What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? Take a deep breath…YOU GOT THIS!Also, the 5-4-3-2-1 method. When you're feeling anxious/overwhelmed. You name: 5 things you can see. 4 things you can touch. 3 things you can hear. 2 things you can smell. 1 thing you can taste.
● How do you define success? Happiness and stability.
● What is the best book you have ever read? The Glass Castle. My middle school English teacher recommended it to me. It's been one of my favorites ever since.
● Tell us something that might surprise us about you. I’m a vegetarian! This always surprises people!
Please also tell us how many years you’ve been in nursing, if you have held previous positions before this, and maybe even where you went to college, etc.
I started my nursing journey as a volunteer at a nursing home that was across the road from the high school I went to. I enjoyed spending time with the residents and staff there. Because of this, I decided to take the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class. After passing the state exam, I got a job at the same nursing home as a CNA. I worked in this position for about 2 years during high school and another 2 years on and off in college. A career in nursing had always been a thought of mine, this job confirmed the thought for me. I am currently in the BSN nursing program at UW Eau Claire. I am a first-semester senior student and will graduate in December 2024. I also work at a hospital in the Eau Claire area as a nurse’s aide. I work in the float pool so I'm able to work on all the floors (Med Surg, Cardiac, ICU, Emergency, Neuro, Peds, Trauma, Labor/Delivery…). I enjoy the variety of patients and the experiences I can gain from this position.
I am excited to be able to have my pediatric clinical at Lake Holcombe! If you have any questions about me, nursing, college, related to your health, or anything else, you can find me in the health office on Tuesdays from 8 am- 3 pm and/or let my clinical nursing preceptor Pamela Guthman, DNP, RN, APHN-PHN. Lake Holcombe School Nurse, that you would like to talk with me.