The Manhattan Community Health Foundation provided Casey Thyer with the first Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan Education Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. After graduating from Manhattan Area Technical College, his healthcare career began in the Emergency Room at Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, and we had a chance to learn a bit more about him.
“Casey was an excellent nurse. He was able to start my IV with one attempt. All the time, he kept us aware of what needed to be done. Very professional nurse.”
What has been the most challenging part of your journey? Nursing school, in general, is challenging. It was a lot of hard work, but totally worth it. I had never struggled as a student, so that was a new experience. Some people on the outside might say it didn’t look as though I struggled, but I worked harder in nursing school than when I got my bachelor’s degree. I cared more about it than any other schooling I had been in, so that was a big part of wanting to be good at it. I really enjoyed what I was studying rather than it being something I had to do. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well in school.
What do you tell others you do? ? I usually say I am an ER nurse. When people ask more about it, I describe it as controlled chaos. I get the chance to help people in their sometimes darkest moments. I always want to be just a good person who is a bright spot along somebody’s journey and can be helpful however I can.
Who has helped you along the way? My wife has always been my biggest supporter. There were definitely a lot of times when I got overwhelmed and said I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this. She always pushed me through and kept me focused—”Hey, here is the end goal, and this is going to get better.” She is pretty great like that.
What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest thing outside of nursing is the birth of my son, Palmer. We tried for six years after getting married, did the whole rigmarole, went to the specialists in Kansas City, and did all the rounds of different shots and medicines. We did six or seven rounds of artificial insemination. Finally, right before I started my RN program, we had a month where everything lined up perfectly. However, we had said, “Hey, let’s wait until I am out of nursing school and have a job and a bit more money,” because, at the time, we were living on one salary, her teaching salary. I was about to start making a bit here every couple of weekends. Uh, no, that was not in the plans.
What did this scholarship mean to you? I am grateful for the opportunity to receive the scholarship. Working here during nursing school was great, even if it wasn’t every weekend. Being on the floor, interacting with the nurses there, and getting to know some people opened up some opportunities, and it has been helpful transitioning down to the ER. I already know many people in the hospital and my way around, so I can focus on making the transition.
