Caring is a Calling

By Amy Charles

For Noah Hamilton, CRNA, ’15, his journey to the success he enjoys today did not begin on “the hill.” Rather, it was because of “the hill.” Working as a nurse aide while attending undergraduate classes in Lexington, Ky., Hamilton realized he truly felt fulfilled caring for others and knew he needed to pursue his nursing degree. Upon applying, he was accepted to several schools but chose to come to the University of Pikeville to continue his education, returning home to his native Pike County.

“Coming to UPIKE for my nursing education was honestly the best decision I could have ever made. I had options to go to other schools, but UPIKE gave me the advantage I needed,” said Hamilton. “Smaller class sizes for nursing students leads to more individualized time with instructors to hone those basic nursing skills. This prepared me for my career as an RN and equipped me to take my education further.”

Upon earning his nursing degree from UPIKE, Hamilton returned to Lexington where he spent three years working as an RN in a critical care pulmonary unit, all while continuing his education to obtain his bachelor’s degree in nursing. Deepening his commitment to his patients, Hamilton demonstrated a desire to go further in his education.

“Working in the medicine/pulmonary ICU, our team took care of some of the sickest adult patients in the state. I was able to learn more about the depth of their disease processes and I knew I wanted to have more autonomy with my patients. This led me to become a CRNA because I wanted the ability to do more for patients on my own,” said Hamilton. “Now, I handle anywhere from two to 10 patients per day, developing plans uniquely for them to get them through the surgical process and improve their quality of life.”

Kentucky’s nursing shortage has continued over the past two years due to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving thousands of job vacancies in healthcare and making nursing a desirable vocation. Hamilton completed his Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree and is now a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, Ky. He is flourishing in an impressive career and proving a nursing education can be a stepping stone to multiple career paths.

“There are plenty of opportunities in nursing that people don’t see until they dive into their education. Nurses, in general, typically find some niche that is perfect for them, whether it be outpatient surgery services, home health, dialysis, case management or caring for patients at the bedside as an RN for the entirety of their career,” explained Hamilton. “You can take it even further and become a midlevel provider as a family nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist, or get your Ph.D. and become a nursing educator.”

Many professors impacted Hamilton during his time as a Bear. He describes them as highly qualified, wonderfully kind people who want to help students succeed. Among these influential professors is Dean of the College of Nursing and Human Services Karen Damron, Ph.D., RN. He recalls her being creative when it came to ensuring every student gained an understanding of the concepts she was teaching and very open to helping students succeed in their educational journey.

“Dr. Karen Damron was an instrumental part of my undergraduate education in nursing. For me personally, her method for teaching pharmacology helped me solidify information that would push me further into my current career as a CRNA. As a nurse anesthetist, advanced pharmacology plays a huge role in my everyday practice, and I feel that her means of educating is what catapulted me into my journey of becoming proficient in this area of my professional practice.”

Damron remembers Hamilton fondly as a student she knew would do great things with his education.

“When I had Noah as a student, I could tell he was going to succeed in spectacular fashion. He was a leader amongst his peers, always prepared, eager to learn, and reliable,” said Damron. “He is someone that exemplifies what we hope to instill in all our students, and we are so proud to call him one of our alumni.”