A Nurses Week celebration, 30 years in the making

For Kristen Romanovich, a nurse on IU Health Arnett Hospital’s med-surg unit (AC6), celebrating Nurses Week feels like a dream come true.

“I'm actually doing what I've always dreamed of. It's incredible,” she says.

A career—and a dream—built over decades

Romanovich spent 30 years building her career in healthcare as a medical assistant before becoming a nurse.

“I went to medical assisting school years ago, and I planned to go back to nursing school right away,” she says

Over time, however, life unfolded—marriage, raising three daughters and becoming a grandma.

Still, the dream of becoming a nurse never faded.

Returning to school later in life, Kristen completed nursing school in 2024 and transitioned from outpatient care into the inpatient world of med-surg nursing. The change was significant, but her strong foundation set her up for success. Years of clinical experience gave her confidence, even as she adjusted to the pace and complexity of hospital nursing.

Fulfilling her purpose

On AC6 (where she completed one of her clinical rotations as a nursing student), she found her rhythm in bedside care—where connection, critical thinking and advocacy come together to fulfill a calling that is deeply personal and grounded in purpose.

“I feel like I make a difference every day,” she says.

Now a year into her role as an RN, she is still growing, still learning and becoming more confident in her ability to care for patients and support her team. She’s also grateful for the journey, even if it took a little longer than she originally planned.

“I feel like in the long run, it has made me more appreciative of where I am now,” she says. “And I mean, it's just it's so awesome that I get to do what I do.”