from the August 2024 RNFA e-News
Credentials
MSN, FNP-C, CNOR, RNFA
Graduate Status
Graduated from NIFA’s RNFA program in 2013
City & State
Cleburne, TX
Where did you get your RN degrees?
University of Texas-Arlington, BSN, MSN
Current Position at NIFA
NISE (Nurse In Surgery Essentials) Program Director,
RNFA Program Director, Onboarding Coordinator
We caught up with Jerrilea the other day to chat about the path that led her to her current position at NIFA. “Without NIFA, I wouldn’t have had my career,” Jerrilea said. “In fact, I was ‘supposed’ to be a doctor.”
Destination: Medical School?
Growing up in a small town in West Texas where ranching is a lifestyle, the dream of becoming a doctor didn’t seem that far off, since it was already a part of Jerrilea’s family tree. From a young age she had known she was destined to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, aunt and uncle – all doctors who had graduated from Kirksville [MO] College of Osteopathic Medicine. Jerrilea was considered a legacy student there; an interview for admission was guaranteed. However, as she says, God had other plans for her.
When entering senior year of high school, Jerrilea discovered the only classes she needed in order to graduate were electives; somehow the counselor had loaded her schedule with honor and advanced classes over the previous three years and not included any electives. This meant her senior year was filled with four classes of Ag, the only classes left open as an option, resulting in the easiest senior year ever, requiring her to attend school only from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The idea of a lazy year seemed pretty good until her mom stepped in with a suggestion that would forever change the course of her career. Her mom was Director of Student Relations at Cisco College and came up with the idea for Jerrilea to take the extra time she had and apply for the Surgical Technology (ST) degree at the college. “If you attend this program and graduate you will be able to have a career once you graduate high school and use that to take you through medical school.” Jerrilea was reluctant at first but quickly realized this could be a steppingstone to her goal of medical school, so she entered the ST program.
Senior year was not the easy, breezy year Jerrilea was expecting. Determined to make enough money to pay for college and move away after graduation, Jerrilea woke up at 4 a.m. every morning to work at the nursing home till 7:30 a.m., then drive to school for classes until 1 p.m., and then drive an hour to the college for evening classes. On days without college classes, Jerrilea picked up every extra shift she could to make money. To be a full-time college student during senior year was not easy but Jerrilea graduated with her high school diploma and Associate of Surgical Technology degree the same year. “I will never forget how proud I was to be 18 years old making $36,000 a year,” she said. While the accomplishment was great, her eyes were set on the larger picture. She immediately enrolled in Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) as a Pre-Med major.
Nursing Instead
Classes were focused around a full-time work schedule. If classes were not offered at the times Jerrilea was available at HSU, she sought alternative colleges to enter for classes that were offered at times that fit her schedule. This included taking a course at Embry Riddle and enrolling back at Cisco College. “Where there’s a will there’s a way,” Jerrilea stated, determined to get to her end career.
Shortly before her sophomore year, one of the faculty members at Cisco College stopped Jerrilea and informed her that there was a new Associate Degree Nursing program starting and she recommended Jerrilea enroll because she was a “perfect candidate for the program.” Jerrilea thanked the kind lady for the compliment and headed toward the registrar’s office to see if the remaining classes she needed for her pre-med schedule were available. The nice ladies there knew Jerrilea and were eager to get her signed up. Unbeknownst to Jerrilea when she walked out of that office, the ladies had decided that Jerrilea needed to sign up for the new ADN Program. It wasn’t until the first day of class for the new semester that Jerrilea realized that this was not where she belonged. Marching to the Student Advisor’s office, Jerrilea stood ready to make her stance known: this was not the degree she chose, and she was still at HSU as a pre-med student who had already paid for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). Medical school was the only option for her. However, with a sweet smile and the wisdom of a mom, the Advisor stated, “Honey, you can always use this as your backup plan. If you complete this program in the two years, then return to HSU and finish the last year of your degree while you are working as a nurse, then you can continue to make a good living while attending HSU.” Suddenly this made sense. “Yes, I will take two years away from HSU, graduate with my RN and then return and then I can really make good money when I go to medical school and this will look good on a resume.” The wheels were spinning and the excitement grew. Jerrilea was on the path of becoming a nurse.
Glimpsing the Potential
Flash forward two years later and the RN degree was in hand. She had done it and was ready to return to HSU. However, fate stepped in and took her on a different path once again. This time she found herself in Plano working at a level 2 trauma center utilizing both degrees as a CST and an RN. While her sojourn in Plano only lasted a year and half, her time there showed her how much she truly loved the OR. And a path was revealed that showcased the potential that could be had when climbing the ladder.
Knowing that the only way to climb this ladder was by obtaining her BSN, she enrolled at the University of Texas in Arlington (UTA). One year later she was once again a graduate. Having moved to Stephenville to return to her country roots, Jerrilea began work at a hospital in Fort Worth. Her skills had advanced in such a way that the surgeons trusted her to assist them throughout the surgeries. Her role as a circulator was minimal and she found herself in the position of assisting more often. Then it hit her: “If I am not to be a surgeon, at least I can assist them.” Surgery was all Jerrilea wanted to do, so this, she concluded, was the next best thing: become an RNFA.
Becoming an RNFA
In 2012 Jerrilea enrolled in the NIFA RNFA Program and completed it within just a few months. With the newfound freedom of having RNFA Certification she found herself quitting her job at the hospital and navigating the role of new business owner. She contracted with various surgeons performing in different specialties. Having the freedom to pick and choose workdays and manage her own schedule was a thrill. “I loved being able to stay busy and do different surgeries with different surgeons on a daily basis,” she said. But the feeling of being stalled at her degree and having limitations placed on her began to eat at her. She did not want Insurance companies coming up with excuses for denying claims or the hospital not treating her as a healthcare provider. She longed for the care she was providing to go past the doors of the OR for the patients. So, in 2014 she decided to return to UTA to pursue her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
While maintaining a busy RNFA business, Jerrilea pursued her studies and graduated in 2016 with her MSN, FNP. This opened the door to many more opportunities. By advancing her degree she was able to gain greater contracts with insurance companies and market herself to a larger population of surgeons who saw her as a person who could now round, perform consults and make referrals. The possibilities were endless for her career. But there was still something missing.
Changing Priorities
After graduating for the now fourth time, it was the next chapter of Jerrilea’s life that would take complete priority. Jerrilea didn’t know it at the time, but it would turn out that the first surgeon who took a chance on hiring her after she obtained her RNFA would become her future husband.
In July 2019 Jerrilea said “I do” under the scorching Texas sun. Becoming a wife and mom to two boys, her life had a new meaning. Shortly after, they welcomed another son to the mix. The first year of marriage not only brought new challenges with being a new mom, it also brought uncertainty with the world shutting down due to COVID. All of sudden life shifted for Jerrilea and the once ambitious 16-hour workdays assisting in surgery were no longer the thrill they once were. Her family was taking the place of the need for the adrenaline rush of the OR. Jerrilea took a step back and began to evaluate a new option in life outside the OR.
NIFA
Throughout her RNFA career Jerrilea had reached out to NIFA several times about a possible job opening. “NIFA gave me the career that I love and I wanted to give back to them,” she said. “I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. I wanted to help others obtain the same goals and dreams that I had accomplished. I was noticing a change of culture in the OR and I wanted to preserve the integrity of the OR. Harness people’s talents and help them navigate and learn the OR so that the appreciation for that department was cherished the way I cherish it. It is a special place to be.”
After several failed attempts at seeking a position at NIFA, Jerrilea caught her chance in 2021 when an email appeared stating the NIFA was hiring. Without reading the job description, she called immediately to inform the staff of her interest, submitted her resume and prayed. Waiting by the phone for a week, she states with a laugh, was “brutal.” But the wait paid off because an interview was granted, and the job was offered. Not knowing what the job actually entailed, Jerrilea knew that she could manage the new position from home, while maintaining her RNFA-FNP career and juggling three kids and a busy husband.
For two years Jerrilea worked as a part-time member of the Legal Department as an Onboarding Coordinator. Multitasking every second of the day, there was no rest. It was not until 2023 that she saw her two older sons were almost grown and the baby would soon be starting school that she decided that the juggling of two careers was not as important as family. “My kids are growing up, and they need me. I have given 22 years to the medical field, it’s time for my family to have the same dedication.”
Jerrilea’s desire to move to full-time status with NIFA and decrease her OR schedule to part time fortunately coincided with an opening at NIFA that matched her strengths. The company named her Program Director of both the NISE (Nurse in Surgery Essentials) Program and the RNFA Program, in addition to continuing her position as Onboarding Coordinator.
“I am proud to say that I have been very successful, and now have the comfort of remaining part-time in my RNFA, FNP practice.” she said. “I’ve contracted now with over 100 different surgeons throughout my career and I am credentialed at multiple hospitals across the Fort Worth area. I have had the pleasure of learning from so many different staff members, surgeons and situations. I hold the position I have with so much gratitude and honor. I consider it a privilege every time I get to walk through the doors of the OR. It is a true blessing.
Personally
Don’t think Jerrilea is all work and no play. In her spare time, she can be found riding horses. “Horses are my passion in life,” she says. “NIFA gave me a career that allowed me to be flexible so I was able to hit as many cutting horse shows as possible. These days I mainly ride for pleasure but with competition season right around the corner, the itch to compete is coming on fast. Every evening my youngest son and I are in the arena preparing. Life on the ranch is great and sharing it with my family is a blessing. All roads have led me here and I thank God every day.”