Nurse Story: Cloe W.
At just 21 years old, Cloe is not only a registered nurse—she’s a powerful voice breaking down stereotypes, challenging generational gaps and navigating the emotional depths of a profession many spend a lifetime preparing for. Her journey isn’t one marked by childhood dreams or family traditions; it’s driven by a simple, profound question: what kind of difference can I make?
Cloe entered nursing school straight out of high school, uncertain of the exact “why” behind her decision. What she lacked in clarity, she made up for in resolve. Typically the youngest nurse on her unit, she holds her own in the chaos and calm of hospital life.
"The hardest part is that you're surrounded by death every single day and you have to kind of turn it off and say ‘I’m going home. How do I start life now?’"
Hailing from Tennessee, Cloe brings her Southern warmth and grit into every patient interaction, even as she battles more than just emotional storms—her hometown is literally weathering floods and tornadoes.
It’s not just the physical storms that test her resolve. The hardest part of her job, she says, is the relentless presence of death. The emotional burden of loss, something nurses face far too often, can be overwhelming. Still, she’s learning the delicate art of compartmentalizing.
Leaving the hospital and returning to everyday life can feel like a jarring shift. But through each experience, Cloe gains a deeper appreciation for life, and the strength to keep moving forward.
“In nursing school, they tell you on day one, ‘If you're not cut out for it, there's the door.’”
One of the brightest lights in her early career has been “Mama Lisa,” a seasoned nurse who mentored her when she first joined the hospital. In a profession sometimes marred by the “nurses eat their young” stigma, Mama Lisa was a powerful exception: nurturing, guiding and uplifting.
Cloe knows how rare and valuable that kind of mentorship is. She believes that a nurturing environment not only builds better nurses but also sustains the compassion and humanity the profession demands.
While her age sets her apart in charts and schedules, it never limits her in the field. Cloe’s story is one of resilience, emotional bravery and a growing understanding that saving lives doesn’t come with an age requirement. It comes with heart.
