Deb Prusak’s Story

I grew up thinking I wanted to be an accountant like my dad. Even though he told me I wouldn’t like it, I went to college and chose Accounting as my major. My mom mentioned nursing, but I had made my decision and my college did not have a nursing program.

As I got further in to my business classes, I wondered if there was something more. The summer before my senior year, my dear friend’s child suffered a traumatic brain injury. The doctors and nurses at UH Rainbow saved his life. After that, I thought more and more about nursing, but I was graduating with my business degree and put it out of my mind.

Fast forward 2 years and my college roommate, who lived out of state, called me to tell me she was going back to school to get her degree in elementary education. She then asked me “So, when are you getting your nursing degree?”

That was all it took. The next day I started calling nursing schools. I’ve been a UH Rainbow nurse for over 21 years. Most of that time was spent caring for the tiniest, fragile patients in the NICU. Then four and a half years ago I became a nurse manager on Rainbow 6. I love what I do and I feel after all these years, I am using both degrees!