Year of the Modern Nurse New Year's Giveaway Winner - Melanie Farmer, RN

2019 was fine, but 2020 is going to be great. Why? It's the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. So what does that mean for us? It means that now is your time to take control of your career and forge a path toward the nurse -- and the person -- you want to be.

In order to help one of the many deserving nurse do this, we created the Year of the Modern Nurse Giveaway back in January. Our goal was to provide one lucky nurse with some of the tools necessary to make this year their year.

This year's recipient of a pair of FIGS scrubs, Clove sneakers, Aaptiv subscription, and Apple Watch and AirPods (among other goodies), was Melanie Farmer, RN!

We're proud of her work, her story, and everything she has to offer everyone she spends her time with. So, without further ado, let's get to know Melanie!
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2020 Giveaway Winner - Melanie Farmer, RN

How long have you been a nurse? What unit/experience? Did you always want to be a nurse, or did you just come upon it?

“I actually started nursing in 2017. However, it wasn’t my first or even second career, but my third! I began as a PCA right out of high school, but after a little while, I needed a change. I then worked in HR for 12 years, followed by outside sales. After a little while, I again felt a calling to work in healthcare. So, I went back to school to begin an ADN program and truly felt like nursing was where I was supposed to be."

"I began as a lab tech during my last two semesters of school and then spent my first year as an RN doing cardiac nursing. Then I joined one of my friends in L&D, and that’s where I’ve been for nearly three years. The bedside is a humbling experience, but I truly believe it will make you into a better nurse (and even person) in the long run. I love it.”
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Can you share your favorite work story?

“In L&D I’ve caught multiple babies. One mother even asked me if I would be on the birth certificate since I delivered the baby! (I’m not sure if that is even legal, but I was honored nonetheless!) I’ve also made so many friends outside of work helping deliver babies, that it’s truly been an incredible experience.”
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What do you like to do for fun, outside of work?

“I love working out -- running, weight training, kayaking. I have two two daughters, 16 & 17. One plays volleyball, so we do that often. We go to the lake a lot, the beach, kayaking, and we’re also very involved with our Church.”

“Funny enough, before I won the New Year’s Giveaway, I noticed my leg was feeling a bit off. I got it checked out and found out that I had a stress fracture! (Likely from all the 12-hour shifts on my feet!) I had to take light duty and some time off work to let my leg heal. During this time, I was truly devastated to not be able to work or even get around easily, and finding out I won the giveaway came at a perfect time to cheer me up!” 
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What does the Year of the Modern Nurse mean to you?

“I think a Modern Nurse is someone who can show compassion and love at the bedside but ALSO be able to go outside, partake in other activities, and stay active outside of work. This entails keeping yourself healthy and getting involved in your community. Nurses are teachers, and to properly teach something, you need to live it. So, for me a Modern Nurse is someone who takes care of themself so that they can better take care of others.”
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Which goodie are you most excited about?

“The great thing about this giveaway bundle is that it contains so many things that can help you be a better nurse as well as an overall more active person. From scrubs to a water flask to compression socks to the Lulu activewear, I think it’s great. I’m very grateful and super excited to use it all!”
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Anything else you’d like to share with our community of nurses?

“I think anyone with interest in healthcare should go into nursing because there are so many avenues and so much that you can do with the skills and knowledge you pick up as a nurse! Nursing can make such a huge difference, whether it’s through education, rehab, or volunteering and being an advocate. My heart is now rooted in helping mothers with everything that goes into L&D. It’s no longer just about bedside nursing; it’s about how I can help patients during their time in the hospital and after when they leave. In a way, my goal is make sure they don’t come back!”
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Thank you, Melanie! Keep up the awesome work!

Let's keep celebrating nurses everywhere!