GUEST COLUMNIST FROM BLUEBIRD VOLUNTEER TO CLINICAL LEADER: A NURSE’S JOURNEY OF CHASING HIS DREAMS

My name is Andrew Delgado, a registered nurse on the 5 North Surgical Progressive Unit at Methodist Hospital. My healthcare journey began as a high school volunteer with the Blue Birds, also working at Methodist Hospital. I enjoyed interacting with patients and their families as I transported them through the hospital on their way home. Those interactions and being able to connect with another person are what attracted me to nursing. I also found the inner workings and complexity of the hospital fascinating.

Shortly after, I attended the UT Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) School of Nursing, was accepted into the internship program, and began working as a student on 5 North. The internship allowed me to build my skills as a student and better prepared me for launching as a novice nurse. I have been a nurse for four years now, working my way up to be a relief charge nurse, preceptor, and mentor, and I will graduate with my master’s degree in Nurse Education by the end of this summer. As I help develop and mentor students going through the UTHSCSA program, I encourage them to apply for the internship because of the benefits it served in helping me grow my career. I also highly encourage fellow students to apply for the HCA Direct Bill, a program and resource for employees to help offset tuition costs. The program has been a tremendous help in paying for my courses.

The preceptor and mentor experience I’ve received in my leadership role with Methodist Hospital has sparked an interest in me to pursue teaching. Currently, I am an adjunct faculty member at the UTHSCSA School of Nursing, where I have spent the last three semesters as a teacher’s assistant for the Adult I Clinical Rotation Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) program. Being able to directly impact the next generation of nurses by guiding and preparing them is what brings me joy. I plan to join the Methodist Nurse Educator Team and continue as an adjunct clinical instructor with UTHSCSA to continue shaping the future of nursing.

I look back at my beginnings and am so proud of how far I’ve come. Methodist Healthcare’s mission statement, “Serving humanity to honor God,” and the I-CARE values attracted me to Methodist Hospital, and it’s been such a privilege growing professionally in an organization that wants to see you develop and succeed. As a nurse, I believe caring for others is the greatest act of service, and as a teacher and mentor, being able to pass down knowledge, being available, and remembering everyone started as a novice are the best ways to empower, support, and build confidence in our learners. Sharing that gift will impact not only my future students but also the patients that they will care for.