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\u201cNursing school was one of the most challenging experiences of my life. I studied constantly, yet I always felt like I hadn\u2019t studied enough. I truly had no idea how hard it would be. But after four years of hard work, I was fortunate to be hired at Monroe Carell Jr. Children\u2019s Hospital at Vanderbilt in the pediatric emergency department before I had even graduated. This was my dream job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working in an emergency room hadn\u2019t been on her radar, but her clinical instructor assigned her to the emergency department at Stonecrest in Smyrna during her senior year. Though Stone expected this assignment would improve her IV skills, the fast-paced environment fit her like a latex glove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This new adventure was also overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stone said, \u201cWorking on a busy Nashville campus that serves as a Level 1 Trauma Center and one of the top-ranked pediatric hospitals in the country was intense. I had moved to a big city where I didn\u2019t know anyone, and I was stepping into my first \u2018big girl\u2019 job. It was no joke. The learning curve was steep, and at times I really struggled. But after a few months, I found my footing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She now refers to that as her \u201csink-or-swim\u201d environment. While she worked at the children\u2019s hospital and lived in Nashville, she grew in ways she never imagined. Adjusting to the demands of adult life, working 12-hour shifts, including night shifts, and coping with the physical, mental, and emotional aspects took a toll, but Stone pushed herself harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI learned resilience, how to prioritize critical situations, sharpen my nursing skills, and most importantly, how to support and care for families going through some of the hardest moments of their lives. That job grew me as a nurse and as a person in ways that are hard to fully put into words. I will always be thankful that my journey started there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stone continued, \u201cI began looking for positions closer to home, and I moved to Murfreesboro. Vanderbilt Bedford was hiring for both PRN and full-time emergency department positions. I interviewed with Jeri Clements, and from the moment we met, I felt so welcomed and at ease. She genuinely wanted to get to know me as a person, not just as a nurse. I came as a very young, impressionable woman, but the nurses, doctors, and staff have poured into me both professionally and personally. I didn\u2019t just find a job; I found lifelong friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She also found her voice, which helps her advocate for the needs of her patients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen I first became a nurse, I was very timid and quiet, often afraid to ask questions because I didn\u2019t want to sound inexperienced. But nursing has taught me there is no shame in not knowing, only in not asking. This mindset has helped me build confidence and grow both professionally and personally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When times were tough, and the learning curve was steep, Stone persevered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of the most beautiful things about health care is that you never stop learning. No matter how long you\u2019ve been in it, there\u2019s always room to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And grow, she has! Besides earning the award, Stone received a promotion to charge nurse and began a master\u2019s program with a concentration in health care administration last fall. Stone said, \u201cThe secret is, I love people. That\u2019s how I know this career was meant for me.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ALTHOUGH FELLOW nurses refer to Michaela Stone as a \u201cbaby nurse,\u201d Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital recently awarded her the Rosamond Gabrielson Staff Nurse of the Year award. This prestigious award elevates the nursing profession and inspires Vanderbilt employees to pursue excellence, advocate for others, and model leadership. Nominees have a track record of providing exceptional patient […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":24191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/09\/3-2-1024x683.jpg\")