When Bailee Abke graduated from nursing school in the middle of a pandemic in May of 2020, she was overwhelmed. Hospitals weren’t really hiring any new grads if they weren’t applying to work on a floor designated for COVID patients.

Deflated by her employment prospects, Abke recalled what her Stuart Middle School coach and social studies teacher, Mr. Mo, told her.

“Mr. Mo always reminded me about the importance of prioritizing my mental health. He told me how it was important to work hard, but also just as important was to make sure I enjoyed whatever it was I was doing,” she recounted.

Abke adopted a new perspective and decided to stay true to what she wanted — to work as a hospital labor and delivery nurse.

As Mr. Mo encouraged her, Abke took stock of her situation and the goals she had diligently worked toward for years. She just wasn’t ready to jump into a situation working in arguably the most stressful portion of the hospital surrounded her entire shift by patients suffering with COVID. She wasn’t yet prepared for that responsibility.

She wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse.

She came to that resolve after having completed her clinicals at Rose Medical Center where she cared for new and expectant mothers.

“Labor and delivery is a floor that is full of joy, for the most part. I was able to experience a whole different level of intimacy with my patients on this unit,” she said. “There’s no better feeling than seeing a mother cuddling her newborn baby and seeing the father look over her with tears in his eyes.

“I knew this was where I was meant to be.”

Abke felt her mental health was critically important. She knew what her heart wanted and where her skill sets could best be used. So she opted to wait for the right opportunity as a labor and delivery nurse.

Abke focused on her master’s degree, which she started her senior year of college. She had minored in health services administration. She really enjoyed her courses, leading her to decide to pursue a master’s degree in administration.

Abke’s goal is to eventually shift her career over to administration and her masters will support that goal.

“I am truly working my way up the ladder,” she said. “I worked as a certified nursing assistant my junior and senior year of college and I wanted to work as a registered nurse after that. This way when I actually go into the administrative side of things, I’ll have been in the shoes of the people I’m making decisions for at one point in my career.”

Abke found that she was quite a marketable healthcare expert. As she was digging into her masters degree, another opportunity came her way as she waited for the labor and delivery nursing position. She was recruited by the City of Thornton to be a member of its COVID Pandemic Response team full-time as a registered nurse. In this role, she administers COVID tests and gives thousands of vaccinations. She also logged experience in helping on the management side of her team responsibilities.

Six months later, Abke got the opportunity for which she was waiting. She was offered a full-time position as a registered nurse on the labor and delivery floor at Rose Medical Center. She accepted this position and decided to also remain on the COVID Pandemic Response Team for Thornton.

“I get the best of both worlds. Being a part of the COVID Response Team has given me the opportunity to provide public health services in an environment outside of a hospital. On the other hand, working in the labor and delivery unit and bringing new life into the world is an indescribable feeling.

“I truly love my job and always wake up, eager and ready to get started.”

Abke’s known for her can-do, positive outlook on life, traits she credits to her mentors from Stuart Middle School.

“Not many can say that middle school was a formative time in their lives, but I can,” she said. “The staff and environment at Stuart Middle allowed me to shine and break out of my shell. They embraced who I was and were my biggest supporting fans. If any of us told them that we wanted to be an astronaut, they wouldn’t dismiss the notion. Instead, they’d say, ‘Okay, how will you work towards that goal and what can I do to help you make this happen?’

“That commitment and acceptance was everything for me.”

Those early years were transformative for Abke because she found people that not only believed in her, but who also actively supported her in her unique journey to reach goals set early in life.

“I believe in 27J Schools because of their commitment to helping students reach their goals.”