Dairy farm to operating table: Why I became a nurse

"Initially, I wanted to be a veterinarian.

I grew up in rural Ohio, on a 200-acre dairy farm. I have a very close-knit family, and both sets of my grandparents lived within two miles. Growing up in the country, you always have neighbors helping neighbors.

In middle school, I was involved in the church youth group, and we frequently visited a local assisted living center. I grew close to one of the residents, and although [she was] fairly independent at age 90, she still needed assistance with walking and activities of daily living. It was then that I realized nursing would be a perfect fit. It felt rewarding, and I felt content. It felt purposeful."

Today, Devanie Gossett, RN, has made her childhood aspirations come true – and grown to become an incredibly important part of the clinical team at Knightsbridge General Surgery and Colorectal Clinic.

She’s not just a nurse, she’s an excellent nurse, her peers say: "the epitome of calmness in stressful situations," "the glue holding multiple disciplines together through a patient's care."

Devanie says she loves working at a care center with the resources and expertise to care for the sickest of the sick. Her colleagues call her a healthcare hero. If you ask her, it's all in a day's work. If you ask us, we're glad she didn't end up a veterinarian.