Nurse Practitioner Working To Prevent Strokes In Dallas Women
Mandy Dirickson went to college as an undeclared student. She considered a career in journalism but wasn't a very fast typist. She realized all her favorite books were about science and through nursing she could become a lifelong learner while getting paid. Dirickson got married and started a family.
"Once you become a mother, you think more unselfishly. I thought about what I would do to earn a good living," said Dirickson, who went back to school to earn her bachelor's in nursing from Texas Woman's University.
She worked as an RN during the night shift and was rapidly promoted to charge nurse at a local hospital. Her husband moved the family to Oklahoma to pursue law school. Dirickson became a home health care nurse helping geriatric patients. "This was one of my favorite jobs because of the relationships I built with the families," said Dirickson.
The Diricksons decided that North Texas would be their home, and upon returning she worked as the director of patient care of a home health agency. As the director, she was always on call. Dirickson's family was expanding with the birth of a third child and so she became a nurse manager of a private cardiology practice.
"I thought about returning to school for a couple of years; I had three children and was juggling their lives. One day I had lunch with a study buddy from college, she told me about a graduate degree that she had completed while working as a labor and delivery nurse and caring for her child," said Dirickson. "I said 'Wow, you make it sound so easy,' and I turned in an application the following week."
Dirickson went back to school and earned a master's degree in the Adult Health Nurse Practitioner program at Texas Woman's University.
In her current role at UT Southwestern University Medical Center's Comprehensive Stroke Center, Dirickson is passionate about prevention of strokes, especially in women.
"Every time you learn something new, you get a key, which opens more opportunities for you. The more you learn, the more keys you get, which open more doors," said Dirickson.
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com