“Zee,” as he likes to be called (his birth name is Daniel) spent the last 18 years working as a Unit Tech, CNA, and many other jobs. All that time, whenever he worked in the medical field, someone would comment, “you know, you’d be a good nurse.” But he never took it seriously; he just didn’t see himself as a nurse. Until, finally one night changed that.
It was November 2022. Zee was driving on a four-lane highway right behind a motorcyclist when the cyclist bumped into the back of the car ahead of him, lost control of his bike, which fell on top of the cyclist, dragging him across the road. Zee immediately pulled over to help. His grandmother had always insisted as a safety measure to keep a First Aid kit and a gallon of distilled water in the car in the event of an emergency. First, Zee ran over to the fallen cyclist, moved him to safety at the side of the road and began rinsing out the many skin wounds he had suffered. In a state of shock, the cyclist kept trying to get up, wanting to get back to his motorcycle sitting in the middle of two lanes of traffic. But Zee kept calm, steadily talking to him, calming him down. When he realized his words were the reason the cyclist stayed where he was, something changed inside him. Maybe he could do some good for others. Maybe he could be a good nurse.
Tell me about yourself.
I come from a line of travelers, both my mom and my grandmom. I was born in Okinawa, Japan where my parents met. My Dad was in the marines. By the time I was only one year old we moved back to the US to North Carolina; then we moved to New Mexico when I was about four. They divorced, so I went with my Mom to Alaska and lived there until I was 18. From there I moved to Iowa to care for her mother, my grandmom, but that didn’t last long. I reconnected with my Dad and moved to Maryville, Tennessee, just east of Knoxville. Way in the mountains. I was there for over ten years. I met my partner there, Leah and we had our two sons there, who are now 18 and 13 years old.
How did you find Carrington College?
Living in Albuquerque at the time, I knew about the other state school nursing programs, but I thought they sounded super competitive. I can be impatient going through a process like that, so when I saw the Carrington College Albuquerque campus down the street I went in, looked at their schedule, and took two tests to see if I scored high enough for the Associate Degree in Nursing program. I scored high enough they could enroll me to start the next month. So I did.
Why do you think you were awarded the DAISY?
To be honest it was a complete 100% surprise. I didn’t even get an email telling me I had been nominated. The day Ms. Robinson came into the class to tell everyone to go to the commons room for the announcement of the DAISY award, she looked right at me, standing by the door ready to sneak away and go home and said, “You too, Zee.” I wanted to go home because it had been a rough week; my grandmother – we call her Oma – had passed away. We had just been up to Wisconsin to visit her for her 93rd birthday.
I’m sorry for your loss. She sounded like an inspirational person for you.
Yeah, the good thing was she knew before she passed I was in nursing school.
Did you find out who nominated you?
I knew it had to be Leah, my partner. Anyone can submit a nomination; Of course, she wasn’t there the day of the announcement because it would have given it away. When Ms. Robinson read the introduction for the awardee and it said, “I’ve known Zee for 21 years,” I knew it had to be her.
Later she told me why she got the idea to nominate me: I helped out a colleague of hers who works with her in labor/delivery. Her friends’ baby was in the hospital and her friend was so upset she wasn’t eating anything. So, I took my sons and we went and got a bunch of feel-good food from Walmart and delivered it to her. I talked with her and played with her baby (I’m a baby whisperer). Ms. Robinson also knows I would go to bat for anyone if they were having a hard time.
Did you and Leah do anything to celebrate?
No, we were dealing with my grandma’s passing. But eventually we had a nice dinner and I thanked her. Also, I’m still in school so I have to study.
When do you graduate?
October 2025. That’s when we’ll have a party. And go to Disneyland!
Is there anyone you would like to thank now for helping to get you through this program?
Yes, very much. I’d like to thank Leah, my boys, and my Mom for always supporting me in whatever I decide to take on and to all my instructors, especially Mrs. Robi, for pushing me to keep at it even when times get tough.
What would you say to a potential student considering going into nursing?
Don’t give up – it gets hard. But if you’ve found that something that you love to do, all the more reason not to give up. I’m almost 40 years old. It took me awhile to find it, but now nothing gives me the satisfaction or sense of accomplishment that this work does.
Congratulations again on the DAISY – I hope it helps you find just the right job.
Thank you.
