Kendal Bailey cried in her car when she failed her first anatomy and physiology test at the Denver College of Nursing. She was never a straight-A student. But she is now the Director of Professional Development for Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, CA, where she was recently named an emerging nurse leader. Despite a rough start in nursing school, she’s just months away from earning her doctorate in nursing education.
Within her career journey, Bailey has worked within one of the most emotionally taxing specialties, starting with her first job in a level three neonatal ICU. She thrived there but always yearned to help others on their journey to become nurses–academia was calling, and she answered, earning a Master’s degree and diving head first into education.
Now, she’s not just teaching the next generation of nurses; she’s pioneering new ways to teach. She just completed a research project exploring the use of virtual reality to teach inpatient clinicians. But for Bailey, technology is just a means to an end–supporting and encouraging nurses at all levels is her primary goal.
“I exclusively work in areas to make nursing better,” Bailey says. “I can’t think of a better profession than me looking at people who are always trying to be their best selves, not just when they are with patients.”
To that end, Bailey has made it her goal to find ways to help other nurses create the lives and careers they want, whether they are just starting or changing direction after many years.
“I’m a personal cheerleader. If I could have pom poms in my office, I would,” Bailey laughs. “Nursing has given me strength in myself that I never thought I would have. I am a person that wants to continuously develop and challenge myself and those around me. I just want to keep moving myself and the profession forward.”
Bailey is undoubtedly doing just that.
The nursing industry offers growth and opportunity–are you ready to explore the possibilities at the Denver College of Nursing? Click here for more information or call us today at (800) 600-6604 and speak to one of our career advisors.