Nursing is a second career for oil refinery worker turned hospital supervisor

Dan Blankman’s average work day looked a lot different 13 years ago.

Back then, he was an operator at an oil refinery. His day-to-day life was filled with using heavy machinery to optimize the refining process of dangerous, highly flammable substances like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

After five years at the refinery, Dan decided he wanted to explore a new career path for himself and his family – one that would allow him to help people and make a positive difference in their lives. 

“My decision to become a nurse occurred when I took my Dad to the emergency room. As the hospital team of nurses assessed and treated my dad, I watched them work. The professionalism, knowledge and compassion the nurses showed was inspiring,” Dan recalls. 

He decided to leave his refinery job in 2005 and enroll in school to complete his associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). Dan worked as a registered nurse at a local hospital for eight years before he decided to go back to school a second time, to complete his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

With three children to support and little savings left to pay his tuition after taking time off to complete his first degree, Dan discovered that the Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (TGHSON) Endowment Fund could help. He was awarded with a scholarship in 2016, which helped decrease the time he would have spent paying back his student loans by about two years.

“Having that scholarship available was a lifesaver,” Dan says, gratefully.

By the time he finished his BSN, he’d racked up nursing experience in various acute areas of the hospital including the intensive care unit, critical care and the emergency department. This experience, and his continued education, paved the way for him to pursue the role he has today, as a hospital supervisor for Tacoma General.

Looking back on his career, Dan is proud of the decision he made to change career fields. He’s happy to have a job that allows him to have a positive impact on people’s lives, the way he always hoped he could. 

“I really enjoy working with the entire hospital, trying to do the best we can for every patient.”