The Manhattan Community Health Foundation is proud to support Natali Drake as she pursues her career as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department. Driven by a passion to help people, Natali’s journey into healthcare is a testament to her dedication and resilience. She is committed to continuously growing her skills and knowledge, with aspirations of becoming a paramedic, a tactical medic, and eventually a school nurse. This scholarship enables her to continue her education and take the next steps toward a meaningful career. We had the opportunity to learn more about Natali’s path and what this support means to her. Natali’s commitment to giving back is evident in her story and her plans for the future.
What inspired you to become an Emergency Department nurse?
My ultimate goal is to become the best nurse I can be and help people in different capacities throughout my life. Becoming an emergency department nurse is an exciting first step. After I gain valuable experience in the ED, I want to continue my journey by becoming a paramedic and a tactical medic one day. I also hope to eventually become a school nurse to educate people and serve my community.
What has been the most challenging part of your journey?
Time and money have been the biggest challenges. Throughout nursing school, I’ve worked full-time, which has been incredibly difficult. For a long time, I went to school four days a week and then worked Friday through Sunday. My husband was also working two jobs, so we had very little time off and not much time to spend together. The support from this scholarship has made a huge difference, allowing me to focus more on my education and future career.
Who or what helped you along the way?
My coworkers have been my biggest cheerleaders. They’ve been so supportive and have been educating me along the way, sharing little tidbits of information and helping me get through everything. My family is also very supportive, but my coworkers are supportive on a whole other level. I can’t wait to work alongside them as a nurse.
What is something people might not know about your hospital colleagues?
There can be a stigma about the Emergency Department, that we’re intimidating or scary, but everyone I work with is really nice and fun. We’re just focused on doing our jobs and doing them well. While it can be a “controlled crazy” environment, the people are so sweet. I can’t wait to officially join their team.
What is your favorite place in Manhattan?
My husband and I have made our apartment into a really cool home. We love collecting and creating things. He’s very artistic, and I love reading, so we have hundreds of books scattered around. Our apartment is getting to the point where it looks like an “I Spy” book—it’s full of cool stuff. It’s fun to look around and revisit where we bought something or what was going on when we got it. It’s neat to be able to make your own space and fill it with things that hold special memories.
