Lifelong friends, lifesaving careers: How two nurses found fulfillment at IU Health

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealthorg, writer for IU Health’s Metro Region

Lifelong friends Annie Waller and Samantha Land found fulfilling nursing careers at IU Health West, where they support each other and make a meaningful impact on patients' lives.

Annie Waller and Samantha Land have been friends for about 30 years. They went to junior high together and have managed to stay in touch through their adult lives. Both women work in the medical field as registered nurses, Waller in the Post-Anesthesia Care unit (PACU) and Land in the Cath Lab.

“I was originally a math major in college, but my mom was a nurse,” Waller explains.

Both women always felt a calling to take care of others.

Waller has worked at IU Health West since 2008. Before that she worked at IU Health Methodist for five years. In the PACU, she typically checks patients in for surgery and does a lot of education before the procedure.

She knew Land was working at another healthcare system and wasn’t happy. When a position opened up in the Cath Lab at IU Health West, Waller reached out to her friend.

“I knew she was working way too much,” Waller says. “I told her she should apply for it.”

Land applied and got the job in the Cath Lab in August of 2024. She works four 10-hour shifts per week. As a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, she appreciates that she circulates between the Cath Lab, Interventional Radiology and Electrophysiology.

“I like that I’m doing more,” Land says. “Just the whole vibe back there is great. It’s everything. The management is better here. I get along with people I work with. I’ve just been happy here.”

Working in the same building, the friends can occasionally see each other now as well.

“It’s lovely to be able to run into each other in the cafeteria,” Waller says.

But what the women appreciate most is being able to help their patients.

“It’s being able to make a difference in someone’s day, someone who is scared or nervous,” Waller says. “Seeing someone come in and get to go home and do well is great.”

“I really can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” Land adds.

Waller and Land found more than just fulfilling careers at IU Health—they found a supportive workplace and the opportunity to make a real difference. If you're a passionate nurse looking for a workplace that values teamwork, growth, and patient care, IU Health is the place for you. Join a team where your skills are appreciated, and your well-being matters. Explore open nursing positions today at careers.iuhealth.org and take the next step in your career.