Nurse is met with IU Health values while onboarding

Shelby Cordova joined IU Health Saxony—soon to be IU Health Fishers—in November 2022, shortly after making the trek from Arizona to Indiana with her family a month earlier.

Without knowing anyone at the hospital, Cordova, a marriage family therapist and registered nurse, began the onboarding process to join the Adult Surgical Step-down unit. Since she began the process, team members have been extremely kind and open, and Cordova has been able to easily get along with her unit.

Most importantly, she’s been able to get back to healing patients physically and emotionally.

“I am lucky enough to say that I work with a phenomenal healthcare team. The staff has been friendly, encouraging and helpful in times of stress or need,” Cordova says. “We do our best to support one another and have a good time. I learn something new every shift from this great group of individuals.”

During the IU Health onboarding process, new team members are typically helped by an older team member. For Cordova, her clinical advisor Kali Lighty-Smith has been an instrumental in making the onboarding process smooth.

From being open to answering simple questions to talking about deeper concerns, Lighty-Smith has been there to help and support Cordova.

“My clinical advisor Kali Lighty-Smith has been a great mentor for me and is always there when I have questions,” Cordova says. “I really appreciate that she is personable, honest and loves education just as much as I do. She is an incredible asset to IU Health.”

Now that Cordova has settled down after her move from Arizona, she can focus on what she loves—helping people.

Cordova earned her master's degree in advanced studies in marriage and family therapy. Her experience with mental health has improved the quality of her patients’ care tremendously. With her knowledge, she has been able to work in multiple places in the hospital such as the Progressive Care unit, Medical Surgical unit, Postpartum and the Neonatal Intensive Care unit and even a state penitentiary.

“Without a doubt, my favorite part of being a nurse is the hands-on care and interactions I get with my patients,” Cordova says. “I enjoy listening and helping my patients with both their physical and emotional needs. It’s not a job when you love what you do. I may teach my patients about their health, but I also learn so much from them through their experiences and stories.”