In the Spotlight: Cassondra Francis

Cassondra Francis, BSN, RN, clinical nurse III in labor and delivery at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from University of Delaware and has been a nurse for five years.

I knew I would always do something where I would be helping people or animals but I didn’t know I would become a nurse until my freshman year at Delaware, Francis says. I feel like I literally woke up one day thinking, I’m going to be a nurse. That was it.

Francis says she had a rocky start since she didn’t pass her NCLEX right away.

I’ve never been a good test taker but the fact that I didn’t pass right away really motivated me and stressed me out, she says. Once I passed my NCLEX I quickly became involved on the unit joining committees and participating in education. I became the chair of our units OR committee and worked toward climbing the nursing clinical ladder. I headed an EBP project which helped to initiate a CHG scrub to help prevent post-surgical infections on our unit. I am currently getting certified as a forensic nurse examiner.

Francis says she loves her current position as a L&D nurse because she is around families every day that are welcoming the most important thing in their lives to the world. I am able to do so many roles as a nurse in L&D and it’s very rewarding.

She says she hasn’t faced any issues or problems as a minority nurse and has this advice for other minorities: Further yourself and do what you love. Remember what nursing is and let any set back fuel you more for what you want.