Tiffany Hedges wasn’t planning to become a nurse.
Instead, she had her sights on a career that would have her working with money instead of medicine.
“I went my first year (of college) to be an accountant,” she said.
It wasn’t long before she realized accounting was not for her.
“I didn’t want a 9-to-5 job where I didn’t feel like I was helping anybody,” Hedges said.
Now a registered nurse at Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital within The Medical Center, Hedges was recently recognized for helping patients by being named the specialty hospital’s Nurse of the Year. She has worked there for three years.
“I was completely surprised,” she said.
Hedges’ job includes various aspects of taking care of patients, including getting their medication, doing assessments and getting them ready for procedures.
“I enjoy the critical aspect of it. Anything critical care I enjoy,” she said. “We have patients here for a long time, and we really get to know them. I like to see patients come back after they recover.”
The Louisville native moved to Bowling Green when she was in middle school. She said she was inspired by her grandfather to go into a profession that would help others.
“I got the idea from my grandfather, who was an (emergency medical technician), policeman and fireman. He was an athletic trainer for (St. Xavier High School) in Louisville,” she said. “He was really sympathetic to people. I liked seeing how much joy he brought to other people’s lives.”
Hedges earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Western Kentucky University. While she spent the first part of nursing school working as a manager at McDonald’s, she decided to devote the second part of it concentrating solely on school.
“I got through nursing school with a lot of support from my family,” she said.
Nursing has enough variety to keep her busy.
“I always have something different every day,” she said. “It keeps you on your toes.”
