Charlotte Nursing Student Practices Vigilance, Stays Positive to Avoid Testing Positive

She’s a single mother of two teenage boys, works full-time as a medical assistant, and is going to school to become a nurse. Consequently, it would be understandable if Susana Dalton got a little cranky every now and then, but that’s just not in her nature. She knows how to adapt and keep moving forward.

Susana moved to the United States from Ecuador in 2003 and quickly built a life for herself, attending college to become a medical assistant and later going to work for a North Carolina pediatric practice. Now, she’s taking the next step in her career, studying to become a nurse at ECPI University’s Charlotte campus. For her, it’s a natural evolution. “I just want to make a difference in people’s lives every single day…it’s very gratifying,” she says. “I come from a family with a medical background on my mother’s side. My grandfather was an internal medicine doctor, my grandmother was a nurse, and my uncle, a cardiologist.”

Under normal circumstances, Susan’s schedule would be quite a challenge, but these are not normal circumstances. Taking all the needed precautions to avoid COVID exposure at work adds an additional element of stress. She doesn’t want to bring anything home that should stay on the job. Susana’s strategy is simple: be alert and stay positive. 

I just want to make a difference in people’s lives every single day…it’s very gratifying,”

– Susana Dalton, Charlotte Campus Nursing Student

“We cannot let our guard downs,” says Susana. “We have to be sure we are observing all PPE (personal protective equipment) protocols at all times and continually disinfecting all surfaces, as well as making sure patients are not sharing the virus in the office,” she says. “We’re also working to educate patients and their families on how they can keep themselves safe.”

So, what does Susana do when she gets down in the dumps? “Thanks to God, I am not like that,” she says. “Stressful times just make me find different ways to stay active and be proactive, keep my spirits upbeat, and transmit those same feelings at work. I have a great work-family and we support each other in every sense. I am very fortunate at home, having a family that is very caring and that understands the risks at work. They are so supportive of what I am doing and always listen to my instructions which makes life easier to live!”