USCB Nursing Student and New Mom, Lali Chappell, Completes Clinicals During COVID-19

Lali (bottom row, far right) with her hospital rotation classmates

Life has changed a lot this past year for USCB Nursing student Citlali "Lali" Chappell. Just two weeks after her son was born, Lali decided to complete her clinical rotations in order to graduate on time. "Now my life consists of two types of 'nursing!'"

Lali logs up to 24 clinical hours per week in the intermediate care unit at Memorial Health University Medical Center (MHUMC) in Savannah, GA. Being bilingual, she offers crucial communication assistance and an added layer of comfort to Spanish-speaking patients that has proven integral to the health of her patients and the success of her fellow nurses.

Serving during COVID-19 has been a crash course in nursing ethics and making tough, but quick choices. She credits her ability to handle these extreme times to her professor, Dr. Lynn Hutchison, whose teaching imparts important nursing and life skills. "Dr. Hutchison taught us that these experiences shape us into better people." Lali continues, "this semester has been challenging and adding a pandemic certainly doesn't make it any easier, but it is very fulfilling to work in a rewarding field where I am able to serve others."

Lali encourages her fellow students and health professionals to remember to have grace and "be kind to yourself" during these times. USCB recognizes your hard work, Lali; your son has an amazing mother to look up to!