Rachel Romo
Nursing is a gift from God. It is a privilege and an honour to be given the grace to heal those entrusted to one’s care. From the very beginning, I was destined for this challenging task. Coming into this world, I was named Rafaela, which means “God has healed.” God had laid the path before me, which I embraced wholeheartedly. As I grew, my parents noticed my interest in nursing and bought me my first nursing kit at the age of 7. My heart leaped with joy as I saw the thermometer, the stethoscope, and band aids inside of a nursing bag purchased just for me.
It wasn’t enough to play the part of a nurse, but rather to become one, which was my ultimate dream. I had to begin somewhere. I was a Candy Striper (Hospital Volunteer) during my high school years. I was also enrolled in the Regional Occupational Program’s Certified Nursing Assistant course, which was my introduction to assisting patients with activities of daily living. It was more than a class. It was a calling to serve those from all walks of life. The suffering I witnessed and the tears I saw fall, left an indelible mark on my heart. All that was crying from my heart as I gazed up to heaven was “Here I am, Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8). He did send me, and I followed with no hesitation.
My crowning glory finally came when I graduated college and passed the state licensure exam, finally becoming a Registered Nurse. All of the hopes and dreams of a lifetime were realised in a single moment. That single moment would be the steppingstone to years of service which took me from a skills nursing facility to a hospital, and finally to a home health agency, where I am currently the Assistant Director of Patient Services and RN Lead. I am also Wound Care Certified (WCC). Nursing has been my calling, my love, and my passion. I don’t take any day for granted. If I had the opportunity to choose it again, I would cry out as I did in the beginning, “Here I am, Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)
Rachel Romo, RN, WCC