Growing up in China, Ling Yan, RN, always dreamed of being a nurse. However, her family had different plans for her future.
“In China, it’s a different kind of healthcare,” Ling said. “It’s a work that is not appreciated by others, so my parents didn’t want that for me.”
However, when she moved to America in 2005, her husband asked her what career she wanted to pursue, and the answer was easy: nursing.
Ling knew very little English at that time, but she did not let that stop her. At the same time that she began pursuing her Associates Degree in Nursing, she was also taking basic English classes.
“I remember my mother-in-law said to me, ‘You cannot hear because you don’t understand their words’,” Ling said.
After fighting through the obstacles - the cultural shock, the language barrier, and those long, difficult medical terminologies – Ling finally achieved her lifelong dream and graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences in Lancaster.
“I get my happiness from taking care of people,” Ling said. “I feel like that is my worth and calling. When my patient has a situation going on and I can recognize it and solve the problem – it makes them very happy, and that’s my favorite moment.”
Now a registered nurse at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, Ling is thankful that she made this life-changing decision.
“I received a warm welcome since I started at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital,” she said. “I enjoy working here. I like the culture of the hospital and the supportive team members. I am grateful that I made this choice.”
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