Conversations with Morgan Toomer

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Toomer.

Hi Morgan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my discovery of nursing as a high school student. I was blessed to attend a summer camp program, Next Level Community Development Center, that offers job placements for students matriculating from 10th to 12th grade. It was during this time that I shadowed many different health disciplines, such as dentistry, physical therapy, and nursing. 

Once I shadowed a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner, I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do. I attended Spelman College for my undergraduate degree, and since the institution does not have a nursing program, I knew I needed to have a plan. I took many of the pre-requisite courses for nursing school between Spelman and Morehouse College. I then attended an accelerated bachelor’s of nursing program at Emory University immediately after graduating with my undergraduate degree. 

The accelerated program allowed me to get my nursing degree in fifteen months. I have always had a passion for women and babies, so going into nursing school, I knew I would probably want to specialize in labor and delivery or pediatrics. I ultimately ended up deciding on labor and delivery, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I’ve always loved Atlanta, so I chose to stay here for my first nursing job at Northside Hospital. I was so blessed to start my labor and delivery career there because I learned so much, and it made me a resilient nurse. 

They don’t call it the baby factory for no reason. It has brought me so much joy to be a part of one of the best and, unfortunately, sometimes the worst day of a family’s life because I am there to offer support, encouragement, and care in such a delicate time. I have used my knowledge to become a travel nurse, and I am currently pursuing my master’s and doctorate degrees to become a family nurse practitioner. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey was never smooth, but all the obstacles and challenges I faced made the end result even more rewarding. When I began the accelerated nursing program at Emory, I never imagined a global pandemic would completely change everything. Completing a nursing degree in fifteen months was challenging enough in itself, but learning to navigate and study without physical interaction made this degree so much harder. 

Transparently, I struggle with a lot of imposter syndrome. My mind can often trick me that I’m not good enough or capable or that I don’t deserve the things I’ve achieved, which is far from the truth. I think those thoughts caused a lot of struggles as well, because I had to work very hard and study a lot to do well in school as opposed to some of my peers who it came to easier. I had to learn that we all have a purpose, and comparison is truly that thief of joy. It was also a tough transition with my first job in the hospital because Covid was still very present. We had to gown up in full protective equipment that I’m sure most people saw when seeing pictures of nurses on the news Ana social media during that time. 

It sometimes became physically and emotionally debilitating because taking care of patients with Covid was no easy feat, and it was always very nerve-wracking to think you could contract the virus at work and even bring it home to family. I’ve learned a lot through all of these experiences, though, and I wouldn’t trade them because they have made me a stronger person and nurse. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a labor and delivery registered nurse, so I specialize in delivering babies and taking care of them for the first two hours after they are born. Labor and delivery can be one of the more difficult specialties because you’re essentially taking care of two patients in one because you have the mom and their baby. I am most proud of how I connect with my patients and the individual impact I have been able to have on so many families, I often leave work very tired, but so fulfilled. 

I’ve gained so many beautiful memories by choosing this career. I am also pursuing my master’s to become a family nurse practitioner as well as my Doctorate of Nursing. I’ll have a terminal degree when I’m done and finally be finished with school forever. I have also recently decided to take on social media in a serious manner. I love creating content and it truly makes me happy to also have an outlet outside of my career. 

I often show what it’s like to get ready for a 12-hour shift, typical days at work, and most of all my life outside of being a nurse. I love my job and career, but it has been so important to find healthy outlets and creating on social media has become one of them for me. I hope to move forward with some personal entrepreneurial endeavors this year. I definitely think now is the time for me to move forward on the things I’ve been dreaming of. 

I hope to have my own business one day really soon. I also plan to do nurse consulting in the near future. A lot of people reach out to me for help and advice for nursing school and within the career pathway, and I would love to create a platform where I can reach and help more people. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?

The best part about choosing a career in nursing is a saying that will never get old. “If you become a nurse, you will always have a job.” This career path offers so many options and flexibility. Unfortunately, though, there has been a shortage of nurses for quite some time. There is a plethora of reasons for this, but the main one is burnout at the bedside. This is one of my main reasons for pursuing higher education. Nurses work very hard but are severely underpaid despite sometimes being overworked.

I’m not sure if this will ever change, but I hope to see better working conditions and pay for nurses over the next 5-10 years. That much is surely deserved. Personally, in the next 5-10 years, I will prayerfully be a DNP educated nurse practitioner. I begin school in May in a BSN to DNP program. I will be slated to graduate in May 2027. My goal is to work in pediatrics in a medically underserved community and eventually venture into the dermatology/aesthetic space. I have a lot of passion and aspirations around that. In terms of social media, I think its power and utilization might look different in the next 5-10 years, but it will certainly still be present, and I hope to be on the right side of it by that point. My only goal is to create content that makes me happy and inspires others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_morganuhh?igsh=MXA1N2ltcHZvMm1kaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_morganuhhh?_t=8kpKI2HENj8&_r=1

Image Credits
Marquise Eppinger