Elizabeth “Ellie” Pearson knew she wanted to be a nurse after spending time volunteering at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. As an undergraduate earning her psychology degree, Pearson spent time in both the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) watching nurses work.
“I heard a lot from patients about the impact nurses had on their lives and I knew that's what I wanted to do,” she said. “The relationships formed between nurses, patients, and families are so special and can't be found everywhere.”
After Pearson graduates in May with a Master of Nursing degree from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing she plans to work at University Hospitals’ PICU.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my work as a nurse is getting to help patients on some of the hardest days of their lives," she said. "I really enjoy making a difference in their lives, no matter how small."
Pearson said she chose Case Western Reserve University’s nursing school because the MN program felt welcoming, like a family, with small class sizes and professors invested in their students.
She also gained valuable experience working as a nursing assistant on the postpartum floor at UH, as well as other training opportunities at the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth System, and as Director of Nursing for the Student Run Health Clinic.