Nurse Earns RN to Honor Lost Son’s Legacy

Krista Moss dreamed of being a nurse since she was a child. But by the time she grew up and had five children of her own, she accepted that her dream would probably remain just that: a dream.

Thankfully Krista’s son, a nurse himself, never gave up on her. He consistently pushed her to pursue her passion and become the best nurse she could be—all the way up until the day he died.

At that point, Krista said it was no longer a choice. “I couldn’t think of a better way to honor him than returning to school for my nursing degree,” Krista said. “Even today, I’m still continuing my journey in his honor.”

It’s a journey that has never been easy. In addition to raising her children while still grieving the loss of one, she took on the responsibility of raising her disabled nephew following the unexpected passing of his guardian. Then, just when she thought things couldn’t get any more difficult, her mother fell ill.

She looks back on that time as the toughest of her life—and the one that gave her the strength and skills to be an outstanding caregiver today. “Through it all I never lost my sense of focus and determination,” Krista said. “I stayed on target and kept my sights set on the goal at hand."

Once she achieved one goal, she set out to achieve another. And another. Eventually, she’d earned not only her LPN degree (her gift to herself for her 40th birthday) and RN, but also her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner certification (PMHNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (graduating with her DNP in the height of the pandemic)—her BSN and DNP degrees both from Chamberlain University.

Hope for Hard Times

Today Krista serves as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and holds many roles in outpatient services providing care to individuals with mental health illnesses, substance use disorders, is a patient advocate for mental health court and uses her forensic nursing certification to offer support and care for victims of rape and domestic violence. She often credits her time at Chamberlain with giving her the motivation and techniques she needed to overcome her hardships, both at work and in her personal life.

The COVID-19 pandemic may be the biggest challenge she’s faced yet. But as her son taught her long ago, she never has to face any challenge alone.

“I am overly eager and filled with fear today,” she said. “And yet, I’m excited and proud to cross this path—and continue to grow, learn, develop, and contribute to the nation.”

Appreciative and Thankful

We appreciate your commitment to the continued well-being of our Chamberlain community and support during this unprecedented time. Please visit the Chamberlain University website for the latest updates regarding COVID-19.

We thank and honor all healthcare workers through our Care for Caregivers website as well as the Chamberlain Wall of Gratitude and thank-you message.

By Chamberlain University