Meet our November Alumni Spotlight: Clara Lugeanbeal, RN
Clara Lugeanbeal, a 2021 graduate of the RN Program at BTC, was inspired to pursue nursing from an early age, largely influenced by a compassionate nurse who cared for her aunt during chemotherapy treatments. In this interview, she reflects on her nursing journey, sharing her experiences across various roles and the fulfillment she finds in supporting patients through their toughest moments.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue this career?
Clara: I have wanted to be a nurse since I was in middle school. When my aunt would receive chemotherapy treatments at Barnes Jewish Hospital, I met the nicest nurse ever. She let me assist her with my aunt and was so kind and compassionate. The way the nurses took care of my aunt definitely made me want to be that person as well.
Q: How has your career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held, what was your favorite and why? And what are your responsibilities in your current position?
Clara: I started off as a new graduate nurse at Cox South Medical Center on a cardiac telemetry floor during the COVID pandemic. I also was trained in the COVID tower. I then left that position and was a nurse manager at CMH at a long-term care facility. Now, I’m a nurse at Mercy in a surgery clinic. I help ensure that all of my patients are doing well before and after surgery. This is my favorite job, especially getting to be a part of cancer patients’ journey during this hard time for them, and being the support that they need.
Q: Are there any particular moments or experiences in your career that have stood out to you or shaped your professional growth?
Clara: I will never forget my first patient in the COVID tower as a new graduate nurse. She sang to me while I cared for her.
Q: Can you share an especially memorable time working with others and why that sticks with you?
Clara: During COVID, all the nurses I worked with were like family. We all leaned on each other during those hard times.
Q: How is your career different from what, as a student, you expected it to be?
Clara: I always expected myself to do hospice care, but I never pursued that.
Q: Have you pursued additional education or certifications since graduating? If so, why did you pursue it and how has it enhanced your career?
Clara: I am currently working on my master’s degree at MSU. I hope to one day be able to teach nursing students and be their support system.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Clara: My goal is to be the best nurse that I can be and give the same care that I would to my own family. Every day I set new goals.
Q: How have you seen your industry evolve since you graduated? Are there any significant changes or trends that you find particularly noteworthy?
Clara: I have seen new equipment in patients’ rooms, such as virtual nurse admissions and discharges, which is pretty cool. This definitely helps out a lot.
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time when you are not working? Any special ways to de-stress? Fun hobbies to help unwind?
Clara: When I am not working, I love to spend time with my dogs and friends. I live near the lake and enjoy the outdoors. I often take spontaneous trips with my sister to go explore.
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go into your field or not?
Clara: Becoming a nurse is hard but you can achieve any dream that you want to. Don’t give up on yourself. This does not happen overnight. Give yourself some grace.
As Clara continues to grow professionally, currently pursuing a master’s degree with aspirations to teach, she emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the nursing field. Her advice to aspiring nurses is simple yet profound: achieving your dreams takes time and grace, but it is well worth the effort.