Geoffery Barnes, RN, swore he’d never be a nurse. In his opinion, nurses were overworked, grumpy, middle-aged women—all on the brink of burnout. Now, Geoff works as a nurse at St. Helena Hospital (SHH) in the Napa Valley, and he’s discovered that everything he thought about the profession was wrong.

“The nurses I work with are great,” said Geoff. “I’ve discovered a career full of possibilities and one in which I can make a difference everyday.”

A New Beginning

When Geoff and his wife, Alissa, RN, began their family, he was running his own business. Alissa worked as a nurse at SHH and was slowly changing Geoff’s view of the profession.

“I’d see my wife come home from work full of satisfaction,” recalled Geoff. “I, on the other hand, was stressed out and overworked. It was then I decided that maybe nursing wasn’t such a bad thing after all.”

When Geoff enrolled in Pacific Union College’s (PUC) nursing program, it was not without its challenges. He went to school full-time while Alissa worked to support their family. Today, the couple has no regrets.

“I am so proud of Geoff for going back to school,” said Alissa. “Our quality of life is so much better, and I feel more secure in our ability to provide for our children.”

Both Geoff and Alissa—he works in SHH’s Monitored Care Unit (MCU) and she works in med/surg and the emergency department—appreciate that their bosses try to coordinate their schedules.

“Our supervisors are just wonderful,” noted Geoff. “They work hard to make sure Alissa and I have time off together.”

The couple is usually able to work three days a week and spend four days with their young daughters, Amanda and Apony.

“Being a nurse allows for a lot of flexibility when it comes to having a family,” said Alissa. “It’s really a blessing to have two incomes and yet have the ability to spend so much time with our girls.”

A Bright Future

While Geoff and Alissa are fairly recent grads, they both feel they’ve already had tremendous opportunity and that future career options abound. Alissa, who graduated from PUC in 2001, recently made a career move to SHH’s emergency department.

“The hospital was willing to train me into my new job,” said Alissa. “I love ER nursing, and I am just so excited that I was given this opportunity.”

Likewise, Geoff has been pleased with his experience and the orientation he was given after completing his degree.

“I was given a comprehensive orientation and tested on my basic skills,” recalls Geoff of his first days on the job. “Even now, I am always teamed up with an experienced nurse in case I have questions.”

Both Geoff and Alissa look forward to a bright future. They know the job opportunities available to them are endless. And they know they will always be able to provide for their children. Most importantly, they know what they do makes a difference.

“Everyday I go to work, I try to be a blessing to those I come in contact with,” said Alissa. “I ask God to use me to minister to my patients—not only on a physical level but on a spiritual one, as well. And everyday I leave work feeling fuller than when I arrived. Talk about a rewarding career!”