Employee scholarship provides Goetz

When Director of Nursing Stephanie Goetz earned her associate degree in nursing (ADN), it was never intended to be the end of her educational path. However, somewhere between juggling the responsibilities of a career and a young family, her professional goals got put on hold. Now, thanks to a scholarship from PMMA’s Employee Education Assistance Fund, she’s finally getting back on track.

“Once I got my ADN, I knew I wanted to go on and get my bachelor’s, but with life and everything, I hadn’t been aggressively trying to complete it,” said Stephanie. “Now, thanks to this scholarship, I’m finally focusing on achieving my next goal.”

Stephanie’s focus on her education won’t be taking her away from the community, as she plans on remaining in her current position while working toward her degree.

“I thought about going back to school full-time, but I decided to take the part-time approach,” said Stephanie. “Hopefully within two years I’ll have it completed—that’s the goal anyway.”

Stephanie’s desire to earn her degree is about more than just obtaining another piece of paper or adding a few more initials behind her name, it’s about moving beyond the nuts and bolts of nursing to become a more well-rounded health care professional.

“I think the curriculum will provide a broader scope and help develop the skills needed to be a better nurse,” said Stephanie. “Plus, the additional leadership courses will enable me to take on more of a leadership role within the community.”

In addition to PMMA’s willingness to invest in its employees, Stephanie says it is the people of the community that make her especially grateful for the opportunity she has been given.

“I love the relationships we get to build with the staff and residents and the ability to help people on a day-to-day basis,” said Stephanie. “A lot of us are in this profession simply because we get joy out of helping other people.”

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