Mayra is a licensed practical nurse at the Bob Michel VA Clinic in Peoria, Ill. 

Tell me about your career before you came to VA.

I began my career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and I worked in that role for 5 years. In 2010, I graduated from the Carl Sandburg College LPN program.

I first heard about VA through a classmate while I was in nursing school. Before then, I had no idea what VA was or what a VA career could mean for me. My friend spoke highly of VA and said being nurse at VA was the way to go. That stuck with me.

As a newly graduated LPN, working at a nursing home helped build up my nursing experience. It was a great way to learn, but I knew that it wasn’t where I wanted to stay forever. While at a nursing home, many of my residents were Veterans and I enjoyed caring for them. One of my favorite things was listening to their stories of their time in the service. Recalling what I’d been told about VA, I remember thinking “I would love to land a job as a VA nurse.”

Describe the work environment at VA Illiana. 

Being a nurse can be rewarding in itself but caring for selfless individuals who defended our country makes being a nurse feel twice as rewarding. I enjoy working for VA and I have great co-workers at Bob Michel VA. I truly feel that they are my VA family.

Working for VA, I look forward to coming in and helping Veterans. The best parts of my day are hearing their jokes and making those Vets who seem down smile.

VA has been a great place to work. When I get asked where I work, I’m proud to say I work as a nurse at VA Illiana.