Nursing Grad Ariel Campbell Uses Personal Experience to Fuel Her Healthcare Journey


Ariel Campbell

Ariel Campbell

Ariel Campbell can trace the beginnings of her career in the healthcare field back to some of the most difficult times.

Campbell’s daughter was born prematurely in 2019, and a six-month stay in the neonatal intensive care unit in Cincinnati followed. She was inspired by her daughter’s nurses, with how they treated their patients and families.

“Going into the healthcare system was important to me because I wanted to make others feel comfortable, make them not feel scared or alone,” Campbell said. “Having the experience of being in the NICU and being scared, not knowing what’s going on, that communication piece between me and the patient or family is really important.”

Campbell is being honored as a Barbara Rood Student Choice Award winner from the College of Nursing and Health Professions at the Fall 2024 commencement. She will graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing.

“It’s a pretty high honor to think that other students look up to me, saw me as a leader,” Campbell said. “I definitely strive to help others, not just in the nursing world but also in nursing school.

“Working in healthcare, I had some experience with how intimidating it can be, so I made sure other students felt comfortable, especially in the clinical setting. I know how it feels nervous, and I didn’t want others to feel the same way.”

Campbell started her journey in the healthcare industry as a nursing assistant for inpatient rehabilitation with patients recovering from strokes and heart attacks.

She is currently a nursing apprentice in the emergency department at ProMedica Flower Hospital in Sylvania. She’s accepted a residency in the Flower ER once she graduates.

“I like the ER because you’re getting the sick people and they don’t know what’s wrong with them,” Campbell said. “Working with doctors and other providers to figure out what their diagnosis is, is exciting. It’s more of a puzzle.”

One of the most important parts of her education came in communicating with patients and their families. Proper communication is key throughout healthcare, but it’s vitally necessary in a high-stress, high-emotion environment such as an emergency room.

“You have to be confident; you can’t walk in there not knowing what you’re talking about,” Campbell said. “You’re someone they’re looking up to. You’re someone they’re looking at to help their family member. It’s important that you have really good communication skills with the family and patient.”

Campbell feels prepared for the next steps in her career thanks to the experiences she received at Owens. She said the faculty and program breaks down material in a way that’s easier to understand.

“Owens does a really good job of implementing skills through your lab and clinicals,” Campbell said. “Other universities, colleges or nursing programs seem so split up, so the fact that Owens’ curriculum is based on different exemplars, it’s easier to understand them.”

Thanks to her hard work and dedication, Campbell has set herself up for an incredible professional future in the healthcare field.

As for what prompted her decision to enter in the first place? Campbell said her daughter is “doing great.”

“She’s a spunky little kindergartner,” Campbell said.

 
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Published December 2024