Eight monthsago, Olivia (Guetle) Colwell transitionedfrom graduate to a registered nurse, while balancing her life as anewlywed, mother, and musician.
Through ReidHealth's Nurse Residency Program, she's gaining confidence, expanding herskills, and growing into her role asa Registered Nurse for the Oncology, Med/Surg, and Hospice unit.
Before nursing,Colwell followed her path in music. She earned degrees in biology and musicfrom Wittenberg University before completing her Master of Music in CelloPerformance at Wright State University. It was while she worked as a nurse'saide and then an Ohio State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) that she decided topursue a career in nursing.
"I alwayswanted to do something in medicine; it just took a while to find my place,"Colwell said.
In August 2024,she married her husband, TJ. The couple met when their bands were performing atan event. TJ plays guitar and is a vocalist for The Protest. She's a leadvocalist and cellist for Divine Martyr.
At the time, TJlived in Indiana and she was a nursing student at Wright State in Dayton. Whiledating, she would take I-70 to visit TJ and drive through Richmond, located onthe Ohio state line.
After marrying,they planned to move to a central location.
"Richmond waspractically in the middle, and I had seen lots of Reid Health billboards onI-70. I explored the Reid careers website and decided to apply," Colwell said.
Colwell wasinvited for an interview. On her tour of the nursing units, she felt a sense ofbelonging. Once hired, the couple moved to Richmond, along with Colwell's 10-year-olddaughter, Julianna, and two cats: Synder and Bandit.
As a first-yearnurse, Colwell is part of Reid's Nurse Residency Program, an initiative of theNursing Excellence, Resilience, and Development (NERD) department. The program strengthensnurse residents' confidence and skills through ongoing education, hands-onlearning, and training, equipping them to deliver high-quality patient care.
Colwell didn'tknow what to expect from the residency program but looked forward to meetingother nurse residents while learning Reid's culture and practices as a new teammember.
"It's nice to feel connected to the organization, andit's great to get to know people who are in the same stage of role transitionthat I'm in," Colwell said. "Sofar, it's been a great experience."
She describes her cohort as diverse, representing avariety of backgrounds and experiences. The group includes 20 nurse residentsfrom every unit, as well as float pool nurses.
"When we gettogether for our monthly seminars, we enjoy sharing our experiences as newernurses. There are always a lot of laughs but also many serious moments as wereflect on our new roles," Colwell said.
Seminars areled by Reid's clinical education staff and topic experts, covering hospitalpolicies, simulation exercises, and evidence-based practices.
"It's beenextremely helpful to learn how teams function at Reid and to ask questions in asmall-group setting," Colwell said.
The programalso prioritizes mental health and well-being, beginning each month with awellness check led by Susan Ream, Well-Being Education Specialist with Reid'sNERD team.
"This providespriceless information on mental health and emotional wellness as we transitioninto this new phase of life," Colwell said.
"The supportfrom Susan and the other NERD team leaders has been great. They're alwaysavailable and just a call, text, or email away."
On her unit, Colwell'sfocus is on patient care, collaboration, and advocacy. Her assessments andobservations help shape each patient's care plan. As their liaison, she worksclosely with physicians, case managers, and therapists to set goals and ensurea smooth transition from hospital to home.
"I love being apatient advocate," Colwell said. "My day revolves around my patients' needs."
A culturecentered on patient care and supportive team members drew Colwell to Reid, andit's the reason she plans to stay.
"It's a verywelcoming environment, and the employees are highly professional. From the start of my application process to now, every Reid employeeI've interacted with has been helpful and kind." -- Olivia Colwell, RN on 5 East for Oncology, Med/Surg, and Hospice
Colwell isenjoying her role as a bedside nurse and she plans to advance to a nurse practitionerin the future, she said.
Outside ofwork, music continues to be part of Colwell's life. She plays cello and singsin church, performs with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and writes andrecords with her band.
She's teachingJulianna to play the piano, too.
"Julianna hasalways inspired me to pursue the best version of myself," Colwell said.
Family time isa priority. They enjoy playing board games, drawing, crafting, and visitingrelatives in Ohio and Indiana.
Colwell is encouraged in her new career by knowing shecan make a difference in someone's life, her love for nursing, and theinspiring team members around her.
"I'm also motivated by setting a good example for mydaughter — showing her the importance of hard work and engaging in a careercentered on service to others," Colwell said.
She's found afulfilling sense of purpose and belonging in her role at Reid.
"I'll stay atReid because of the overall professionalism of the organization, my awesome co-workers,my desire to help others, and to enhance my skills as a nurse," Colwell said.
About ReidHealth's Nurse Residency Program
Reid Healthjoined the Vizient and American Association of Colleges of Nursing(Vizient/AACN) Nurse Residency Program™ to ease the transition of newlygraduated nurses to clinical practice. The program promotes quality, safety,and reduces turnover rates for first-year nurses.
For more informationon Reid Health's Nurse Residency Program, call (765) 983-3000 ext. 4548.Information on nursing careers and Reid Health is available at reidhealth.org
