Sharon Celia, BS, RN, IPI’s Assistant Director of Clinical Services
The past month has been a very exciting time at Independence Plus! Not only did we move to a new location, allowing us the space to expand our simulation lab and bolster our teaching facilities, we also welcomed a very talented nurse educator to our clinical education team! Sharon Celia, BS, RN, is IPI’s new Assistant Director of Clinical Services, bringing with her more than 25 years experience as a nurse and a robust background as a leader and educator. Her sensible, calm, patient-first focus is perfect to prepare our nurses for our patients and we are thrilled to have her on board. We sat down with Sharon last week to find out what brought her to IPI, what her job entails, and what she has to say to nurses who are interested in working in home healthcare.
Q: Tell us a little about your background and what brought you to IPI.
A: I’ve been a nurse for just over 25 years. Most of my background is in emergency nursing where I have worked as a bedside ED nurse, preceptor, charge RN, EMS Coordinator, Trauma Coordinator, Manager and even as a critical care transport nurse. During these roles, I have had the opportunity to educate nurses, paramedics, EMTs, CNAs and even physicians. I have truly enjoyed the education component which has allowed colleagues to grow professionally and affect their patient care in a positive manner. Being a family-oriented person, IPI appealed to me because our company provides an opportunity for families who have a medically complex family member to live together. I look forward to growing with IPI.
Q: What made you want to be work in home healthcare?
A: The appeal for me was the opportunity IPI gives to those with medically complex conditions to live in their home with their families.
Q: What does your job entail and what do you enjoy most about your role?
A: As Assistant Director of Clinical Services, I will be overseeing and providing education to our nurses both here in the office and at home with our patients. This will continue as our nurses work in the field to be sure they have the tools to continue to provide the exemplary care IPI is known for.
Q: Who inspires you?
A: When I was younger and considering what career I wanted to go into, I would say it was my parents. They both fostered my love of science, fascination with the human body and my desire to work in a field helping people. Now, I would say it is my entire family. They are all so supportive and proud that I’m a nurse and I find that so rewarding as well as the personal reward I feel by being a nurse.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Professionally, I would say all of the lives I have been able to affect as a nurse. That is either directly or indirectly through the education I have been able to provide. Personally, I would say my family. I have been married for 25 years and blessed to have two sons and a daughter-in-law!
Q: What words do you live by?
A: Stay positive, remember, things could be worse and they’re not. Remind yourself of the blessings around you every day.
Q: What is the one thing about yourself that you think people would be surprised to know?
A: As a nurse, the thing other nurses find so surprising is that I took written nursing boards! It was two days of testing, with a morning and afternoon testing session each day, and it took two and a half months to find out that I passed, which happened to be five days before my wedding! Personally, a fun fact is that I am an Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver. I find it very relaxing and beautiful to explore the underwater world!
Q: What would you say to nurses who may have an interest in working in home healthcare with IPI?
A: I feel home care allows our nurses a unique opportunity to use the knowledge and skills obtained in nursing school and IPI education to allow those with medically complex conditions the opportunity to live in their own home with their family and do things they wouldn’t have the opportunity to do without home care. The rewarding feeling that our nurses have from providing this care is something they can be proud of and carry with them.