From a teacher in Siberia to a registered nurse in Bloomington

This article is written by Luba (Liubov) Tretyuk, RN, with the Bloomington 5 East Med-Surg team.

Looking back, I see my journey not only through challenges but also through countless opportunities for growth, fortitude, and faith in my calling.

My name is Luba, and I'm originally from Siberia. My first profession was as an elementary school teacher, but even then, deep down, I felt a passion for nursing. I've always wanted to care for people, especially those who are vulnerable, in pain, or simply in need of kindness and compassion.

After moving to the United States, I realized it was time to take a step toward my dream. I decided to become a nurse. This decision wasn't without its challenges—my English was very limited, and I had to start almost from scratch. I enrolled in English classes for adults and studied for three years to overcome the language barrier.

Even afterward, I realized my English was far from perfect. But one day, I told myself, "If you wait until you feel completely ready, you'll never start." And so, I went to college. To apply to nursing school, I had to pass 11 required prerequisites. At the time, it seemed impossible, but I kept going. The entire journey from my first English class to graduating from nursing school took eight years. Those were years of intense study, doubts, tears and sleepless nights.

Big dreams seem unattainable when you only look at the end goal. I learned to break my dream down into small steps. Each small success brought me closer to what I wanted.

Today, I proudly work as a nurse at IU Health Bloomington, in the 5 East Med-Surg unit, alongside an amazing and supportive team. English is my second language, and healthcare is a completely new field, but I don't feel alone. My colleagues kindly share their experiences, helping me adapt and grow in the profession.

This journey has taught me something you can't learn from textbooks alone: to achieve something meaningful, you need to know exactly what you're trying to achieve, believe in it wholeheartedly, and not let fear stop you. Goals change us. They push us to go far beyond what we think is possible if we don't give up.

But most importantly for me, nursing isn't just about procedures, diagnoses and protocols. It's also about empathy, the ability to listen to patients, be present during difficult times, hold their hands when they're scared and maintain a person's dignity when they're especially vulnerable. I believe that compassion and genuine care are integral to quality care, and I intend to follow this principle in my practice.

My journey into nursing isn't just my personal story. It's a reminder that perseverance, belief in your dream and a willingness to work with all your heart can lead to what once seemed impossible.