Your World


By Shari Held Outside interests help nurses achieve balance


SHUTTERSTOCK


Amber Mack has been involved in ballet since she saw “The Nutcracker” as a high school freshman.


Two years later, when the ballet


Nurses do amazing things on the job. Between shifts and on weekends, they translate their passion for nursing into other ventures — with some incredible results.


Here are the stories of nurses who shine in the limelight away from the job.


En pointe | When Amber Mack, RN, saw a performance of “The Nutcracker” as a high school freshman, she knew she’d found her passion. She started taking classes and playing catch-up. “Most ballerinas start


when they are 2,” she said. Her hard work paid


Mack


off when she won a talent scholarship to


Northern Illinois University. There she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance performance. Before graduating, she landed a job as a company member with the Indiana Ballet Theatre in Crown Point.


company cut its health insurance benefits, Mack stayed on, but she also returned to school — this time to get a nursing degree. After working for five years in


pediatrics at Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital, Mack switched from part time to PRN status and took a part-time position at Express Care in Valparaiso. She also spends four days a week at the ballet company practicing and sewing costumes, and dances in most performances. “Many of my patients came to my


performances with their school groups,” she said. “I got to go out afterward and speak with them and encourage them to go to college and pursue their dreams.” Dual careers are just part of this busy


28-year-old’s life. She and her husband have a 15-month-old son and recently found out they’re expecting a second child. Hectic schedule aside, Mack said it’s all worth it. “You definitely need to have a


passion and a career outside of nursing. Otherwise you’re going to get burned out,” she said. “You can’t just help others all the time. You need to help yourself,


Indiana Nursing Quarterly • indystar.com/nursing • Fall 2011 19


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