Some people know early in life that they want to be a nurse or work in healthcare. #healthynurse Janna Kissmer, RN, BSN, is not one of them.
In fact, Kissmer still had not felt the pull toward nursing even as she entered her 30s. What she did feel was a desire to do work that felt more meaningful than her career in resort sales. She reached out to a local hospital, thinking she would volunteer her time to help with fundraising or events.
They offered her a volunteer spot helping in the emergency department.
"I wasn't sure I was cut out for the role, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone," Kissmer says. "Every Sunday, I went to the emergency room and did whatever they needed. I cleaned up beds between patients, ran back and forth to the lab, and delivered blankets. I found it rewarding."
When her friend suggested she go back to school for nursing, Kissmer thought she was crazy. She was too old for that kind of career change, right? But Kissmer could not shake the idea. “Rewarding” Does Not Mean Easy
Nursing school was challenging for Kissmer, and the initial years working as a medical-surgical nurse took a toll.
"My mental health went down the drain, especially when COVID hit," Kissmer says. "My lifestyle prior to nursing was already unhealthy, and those behaviors only got worse with the stress of med-surg and a pandemic. I was anxious, wasn't sleeping, and found myself self-medicating with alcohol."
Kissmer knew something had to change. She chose nursing as her second career because she wanted to help others. But now she was not showing up for her patients in the way she wanted to. Kissmer started weekly therapy and soon realized that she needed a different job setting.
"I found a job in a primary care clinic that offered regular hours and a much slower pace," Kissmer says. "The regular schedule and reduced stress allowed me time to focus on fixing myself."
Without 12-hour shifts, Kissmer’s sleep got back on track, and her anxiety lessened. She no longer needed to reach for alcohol, and she started exercising regularly.
Triggering a Ripple Effect
Little by little, Kissmer got back on track. Her exercise was not structured or hardcore — she just did, and still does, what feels good to her body. She realized that exercise helps her feel better mentally and physically. It also provides space to focus on other things.
"That one change helped me feel motivated to make other changes," Kissmer said. "I became a better friend and nurse because I wasn't as absorbed in my own problems. I was even able to maintain a healthy relationship after years of toxic relationships."
Ways that Kissmer supports her well-being include:
- Eating healthy: Kissmer cooks at home more and experiments with healthy ingredients. She found a love for smoothies and works to get all her nutrients for the day in her morning smoothie.
- Gardening: Working outside with her hands in the earth brings Kissmer peace of mind. She loves growing plants, digging them up, and gifting them to others.
- Prioritizing variety in her physical fitness: Kissmer gets bored easily if she does the same exercise every day. So, she mixes it up between running, power yoga, HIIT workouts, and strength training. If she does not feel like exercising, she goes for a walk.
- Reading self-help books: Kissmer knows she's a work in progress and is always learning new ways to improve her well-being.
- Removing alcohol: After participating in "Dry January" last year, Kissmer has never gone back to drinking alcohol. She says it has been life-changing. It has helped her sleep, regulated her moods, and brought her balance in a way she never expected.
"It has been trial and error to figure out what works for me," Kissmer says. "I needed to identify the barriers keeping me from my goals and tackle them one at a time."
For instance, Kissmer struggled to exercise first thing in the morning. So, now she closes her computer at the end of each day and gets her exercise in before she does anything else. She looks forward to it.
"It helped when I realized that I could focus on my well-being without the pressure of a strict structure," Kissmer says. "I do what works for me. Consistency, not perfection, is my goal."
Serving as an Inspiration to Others
Kissmer’s current job is remote with Humana, but it has not stopped her from motivating coworkers.
"We use a healthy habit tracking app, and my coworkers ask about the activities and habits I track," Kissmer says. "I just share what works for me in casual conversation, and my coworkers have responded."
Kissmer inspires others by:
- Encouraging others to join her for 5K races — often for a good cause
- Sharing smoothie recipes, healthy cooking tips, and snack ideas
- Tracking her steps and activities with Humana’s wellbeing app
- Motivating others to try “Dry January” or cut back on alcohol consumption
"My goal in making these personal changes is to show up better for the people in my life," Kissmer says. "I want to be pleasant to be around and a positive influence on others by setting a good example. I now know that I can only do that when I am balanced."
Janna Kissmer, RN, BSN, is a registered nurse working at Humana.
