Meet Jamerson Holloway, Chamberlain’s Inaugural Commit-to-Care Service Award Winner

_{Jamerson Holloway
RNA-SEQ Manager at the North Las Vegas Veterans Administration 
Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain, 2018
Doctorate in Nursing Practice, Chamberlain, anticipated graduation October 2022 
Nominated by Dr. Tracey Long}

Jamerson Holloway does not just dream big. He makes things happen. The oldest male in two generations of his family, Holloway knew he was not destined to stay put in his Springfield, IL, town. “I wanted to be something impactful. Being a nurse allows me to make those incremental impacts on people's lives. I do not have to do it on a broad scale; for me, making that impact for one person, just one person, if I can change the trajectory of one person with an act of kindness, that to me so rewarding.” 

Confidence + Swagger = Holloway’s Nurse Superpowers

Every nurse has something that makes them unique, makes them extraordinary. Holloway knows exactly what sets him apart: “Confidence is my nurse superpower! I am my biggest cheerleader, I'm my biggest fan. And I raised my children the same way; no one's going to love you until you begin to love yourself first. You must believe in yourself first.” 

“Having that little personal swag, that confidence, allows you to always remain within the moment and take advantage of those opportunities to be able to have a breakthrough with your patient.” 

Now is the Perfect Time to Become a Nurse

Holloway believes in timing, and now, he says, is the time when nurses are needed more than ever.  “The need for nurses is so great, and we have many nurses who are baby boomers and retiring; we need to bring new recruits and refreshed ideas into the profession,” Holloway says. The key to recognize the calling, he says, is to have not just an interest in nursing but a passion for people and guiding them to wellness, a love of sharing knowledge, and deep empathy. “If someone's interested in coming to this profession, just ask yourself, ‘Am I willing to serve? Am I willing to serve with excellence? Am I committed to giving myself to helping others better themselves?’ That is what nursing is all about.” 

Holloway loves the diverse career paths nurses can take. “Even now, I have no idea what is in store for me in nursing, what my future can be, because it is so expansive, I can go into so many different avenues. And it is because of Chamberlain, that I have all those opportunities in front of me.” 

“I love nursing because I love to learn,” he says. “One thing about nursing, change is inevitable. We might be doing it one way for three years, and then two years later, they change it because evidence shows we need to adapt.” 

"I have always said if Chamberlain can make me a nurse, they can make anyone a nurse!"

-Jamerson Holloway

 

Chamberlain Provides Solid Footing

Nursing is an unlikely second career for Holloway, as he was “skittish” around blood and did not like needles. “Chamberlain professors walked me through it, and they helped me overcome my fears; they really created a foundation for me to just be better and grow. I have always said if Chamberlain can make me a nurse, they can make anyone a nurse! Chamberlain truly does make extraordinary nurses.”  

Mission Trips Around the World -- and at Neighborhood Barbershops

Holloway has served on many international medical mission trips, to countries including Africa, India, the Dominican Republic and Panama. He also volunteers close to home, dedicating three Saturdays a month to bring health information and monitoring to African American men at Las Vegas-area barbershops.  “Nursing is about having empathy and having that passion to want to make it better for someone else. If you can make it better for one person, then that person can share that information with their sphere of influence, their network, or friends and, collectively, we can make it better for our individual communities.” 

As a Black male, Holloway understands some of the trust issues and challenges Black men have with the medical profession and wants to help them be more engaged in their own healthcare and prevention. That is a driving force behind his barbershop initiative. “I felt it was critical for me to put myself out there, make myself available, and just say, “Hey, yes, I am a Black male nurse, and that’s cool. I have something to offer you, something to teach you.’” Holloway says being a Black male nurse makes him more relatable to the Black demographic as he discusses health tests and tips in areas including hypertension and diabetes. 

Nursing Pushes You to Be Extraordinary 

“I want to be a better nurse. I feel like I have a lot more to offer. I can be better; I plan to be better,” Holloway humbly says. “I am just going to keep going one patient at a time, one veteran at a time so that I can learn along with them. I always tell my patients, “We are a team. We work together. You are the star of the show, on the court. I am just the coach. I will tell you some plays that we need to do, and you need to go out there and implement those plays. If we follow the plan and trust the process, we can win the championship together as a team.” 

By Eileen Daily