Featured Profile: Travers Villany

Meet Travers Villany. His Nursing Story starts on the streets of New York City as a Cab driver who heard the call to join the Nursing profession after getting into an accident himself.

What was your career or industry before you became a nurse?
N.Y. Taxi Driver/Owner

How many years did you work in that field before deciding to become a nurse?
Twenty five years.

What were the three most compelling reasons you decided to switch careers?
Grandfather was an M.D. I was a pt after getting hurt in an accident. The nurses were caring, compassionate with empathy, a kind of unconditional form of love and care. A foreign concept to a N.Y. cab driver.

What was the major reason you chose a career as a nurse?After the accident I worked for the American Red Cross as a home attendant (I really enjoyed it). Then, while I was driving a van for pt. transportation a man fell in front of the vehicle. He was not breathing, and had no pulse. I started the CPR I had learned from the Red Cross, and after 15 minutes (I thought I was going to drop) he started to breathe, and had a pulse. Three months later after I received a "Certificate of Merit" signed by the President of the U.S. It was my proudest moment. Later, when my Dad died, I decided to go to Nursing School.

Where did you attend college?
Bernard Baruch, NYC
Mid-Manhataan School of Practical Nursing
Helene Fuld College of Nursing

What is your nursing specialty?
T.B.I. (Traumatic Brain Injury) Neurological Rehab.

How did you decide on your specialty?
It is a mixture of med/surg, and psych. It requires a lot of understanding people even when they don’t understand themselves. I think I acquired that from the cab.

What is the name of the healthcare facility where you are or will be working?
Hospital for Joint Diseases

What are the major areas of importance to you in selecting a position
When you see positive results from your work. I use humor to distract pt's from disease.

What appealed most to you about working at your current or future place of employment?
I had heard it was one of the best, so despite many offers from other places after I graduated I waited 3 more months to work at HJD.

How did you learn about the opportunity at your current or future place of employment?
Career counselor at school

What advice would you give an individual who is considering changing careers and is considering a nursing career?
Go for it, if you think you have what it takes. It really takes a lot. You must be able to perform in the most stressful situations imaginable; both take, and give orders; and have lots of self-confidence without ego. Saving a life is truly the best feeling in the world. But most importantly, do not become a nurse for financial reasons. It won’t do you, or the pt's any good.

Would you become a nurse again?
YES!