Nursing Graduate: 2019

Stetson Smitherman, BSN, RN, took quite the journey in searching for his dream job. A job where he could help others and make a difference in the world. Teaching, event planning and working for a nonprofit organization were all jobs that Smitherman enjoyed, but none of them really fulfilled his ultimate goal. He had always been inspired by nurses but intimidated by nursing school. Smitherman decided to “take a leap of faith” and attend TTUHSC nursing school where he discovered a career that would achieve his dreams.

With COVID-19 being so new and unknown, every day is different at Covenant Health in Lubbock, where Smitherman works. Since family cannot visit COVID-19 patients, doctors and nurses are the only other people patients see until they are released from the hospital. Because of this, Smitherman has undergone a transformation into a higher level of care in nursing — exactly what he’s been searching for. He’s been the family member, the confidante and the nurse. -Caroline Wahl