Husband’s cancer battle inspired Essentia nurse’s career change

After losing her husband to colorectal cancer, CK Schultz did some soul searching about what came next in her life. She was inspired by the care and compassion she and her family received during her husband's illness.

"I thought if I could do it all over again, I would try to be the kind of nurse for people that they were for us," Schultz said. "I take great pride in that. It helps me connect to the mission of why I became a nurse. I want to pay it forward. I want people to know that we care about them and their health."

She met her husband, Richard, while working in external relations at the University of North Dakota. He was diagnosed with an advanced stage of colorectal cancer at the age of 40.

Schultz also gave birth to twins while her husband was battling cancer, adding more stress to an already challenging situation.

"I understand what it is like to sit at someone’s side and be the caregiver," she said. "I know what it's like being the person receiving the care. It plays a role in who I am as a nurse without a doubt. It helps in how I relate to patients and notice subtle clues when patients don’t understand or need to know more."

Following her calling

As a single mother of two young children, starting over wasn't easy, but Schultz quit her job and went through a program at UND for people transitioning into health care roles from other careers. She became a certified nursing assistant and has spent the past decade working as a nurse at different health systems in North Dakota.

"I think about my husband all the time because he inspired me to be a nurse," she said. "There is nothing more moving to me then when I can be present for others to help them in the same way that I was helped. I went on this path because I wanted to touch people's lives. Being in a direct patient care role helps me do that."

Schultz works as a registered nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at Essentia Health-Fargo. She helps patients with same-day procedures, from admitting them to preparing for procedures, recovery, help with pain management and discharging them when they are ready to go home.

"I like the variety," Schultz said. "I could be having a conversation with a 2-year-old about the tonsils that they are going to have out. A few minutes later, I could be talking with an 80-year-old about having their knee replaced. That’s the great thing about nursing, is that it isn’t the same from one day or one shift to the next."

Schultz has displayed an ability to connect with patients on a personal level, helping to put them at ease.

"CK has an amazing breadth of experience and is a calm and kind presence," PACU Supervisor Katelyn Meyer said. "Patients appreciate her bedside manner and the knowledge she shares with them, as evidenced by the many kudos that she receives from patients."

Essentia is the place for her

Schultz had worked at a number of different medical facilities around the state before coming to Essentia. She said she was drawn to Essentia by its reputation for delivering excellent patient care and the resources available at a larger integrated health system.

During her time at Essentia, Schultz has been impressed by how the organization values nurses and allows them to do what they do best. She has also been inspired by Essentia's focus on innovation and efforts like our journey toward Magnet nursing designation that puts nurses at the forefront of planning for the future.

"I have had nothing but positive experiences working with nursing colleagues, different divisions, administration and leadership at Essentia," she said.

Schultz has worked at Essentia for most of the last four years. She started working at Essentia in July 2020 just before COVID-19 peaked, which she admits was a difficult time to be a nurse. Schultz left Essentia for about six months to go into health care administration.

"I thought I would try administration, and I realized quickly it was not my calling," she said. "When I decided I wanted to go back to delivering bedside patient care, I didn't look anywhere else."

Schultz returned to Essentia in November 2023. She was impressed with how warmly she was welcomed back by her colleagues, administrators and nursing leaders. This further confirmed to her that she made the right decision and is in the right place.

"I feel fortunate that this is my calling and I know where I'm supposed to be," she said. "I don't feel like I need to search for anything else. I know I am in the right place, doing the right thing."