TGHSON helps former paramedic pursue her nursing passion

Heather Pounds always knew she wanted a career in medicine. 

In college, she was sure she wanted to become a doctor, but then shifted her interest after she had the opportunity to ride along with a group of paramedics from the hospital where her mother worked as an emergency room nurse.

Heather became a paramedic in 1995 and worked at Tacoma General Hospital for more than 10 years. Being a dedicated champion of ongoing education, she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and go back to school to become a registered nurse (RN), eventually leading her to work as an emergency department RN for Tacoma General.

In 2015, Heather went back to school a third time to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. She had to work overtime most days to pay her tuition, and that’s when she turned to the TGHSON Endowment Fund for help. 

Heather was awarded a scholarship in 2015, which allowed her to spend less time working and more time focusing on school and her family. As a mom of four, having that time back was invaluable. 

As Tacoma General’s Trauma Program Manager, Heather encourages RNs from all areas of the hospital to pursue options for continued education as often as possible. “So many times, people feel like they can’t afford the cost of going back to school or getting new certifications. But there are always resources that can help,” Heather explains. “Having this scholarship available made everything so much less stressful for me.”

Heather is grateful for the compassionate alumnae and community donors who contributed to furthering her education. In her own words, she says:  “From the bottom of my heart, thank you! Thank you for giving people the opportunity to advance their careers, and supporting those who want to pursue their passions.”