The Inspirational Journey of Georgia Nurse Venus Kell

From helping her parents heal neighbors in the Philippines to caring for patients with heart disease in Georgia, Venus Kell’s path to becoming a nurse has been guided by compassion, perseverance, and purpose. Today, she’s a cardiology family nurse practitioner who continues to embody the values of care and service that inspired her nursing career.

A Calling Rooted in Family and Community

Venus grew up in the Philippines in a family devoted to helping others. “My mother was a hilot, or midwife, and my father was a faith healer who used traditional herbal medicine,” she recalls. “When I was 7 years old, I started assisting my mother, and I continued to do so until I was 20. Both of my parents served our community without charging a fee because everyone was very poor.”

Witnessing their generosity shaped Venus’s view of nursing as a calling. “I always wanted to be the person who could bring comfort and joy and make people smile during their worst day,” she says. “I saw the real joy in my parents’ eyes every time that they helped others.”

A Rock Band, a New Country, and a New Beginning

Before her nursing career began, Venus had another passion—music. “I used to be the lead guitarist in an all-female band,” she shares. The band traveled and performed in Singapore, and that’s where Venus met her husband. In 2006, she moved to Georgia to join her husband and begin a new chapter of her life.

Though she traded the stage for scrubs, Venus brought that energy and teamwork to her nursing career. She enrolled in Chamberlain University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. “I chose Chamberlain because I love the culture,” Venus explains.  

Venus graduated from Chamberlain cum laude in 2016. She began working for Northside Hospital Cherokee in Georgia a few weeks later as a staff registered nurse (RN). 

Advancing Her Education at Chamberlain

Venus found her work deeply significant. She shares, “As a bedside nurse, I had the privilege of caring for patients during some of the most difficult and vulnerable times in their lives.” However, she also sometimes felt limited in her ability to influence long-term outcomes. Venus knew she wanted to do more for her patients. 

“I wanted to be more involved in diagnosing, managing treatment plans, and providing holistic care—not just treating diseases,” Venus says. “I had a desire to extend and broaden my ability to make a substantial impact in people’s lives.” 

That drive led her back to Chamberlain. Venus enrolled in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialization. 

“The faculty was very supportive throughout my journey. They never let me down,” says Venus. Her professors also left a lasting impression. “One of them told me, ‘There is no elevator to success—you have to take the stairs,’” she recalls. “That advice has stayed with me ever since.”

Building a Career and Giving Back

After graduating from Chamberlain with her MSN in 2021, Venus moved into a clinical supervisor role in neurology at Northside Hospital Cherokee. She notes that a nursing career path as a family nurse practitioner is a versatile one, adding, “You have the ability to work in various settings, whether it’s a clinic, private practice, or hospital setting. My FNP degree prepared me for a variety of positions by providing knowledge and background in multiple specialties and in acute and chronic conditions.”

In fact, Venus applied that knowledge and moved from neurology to cardiology. Today, she works as a Georgia nurse practitioner in cardiology at Northside Hospital Cherokee, while also continuing to serve as a relief charge nurse there at least a couple of shifts a month. 

Venus finds deep fulfillment in the connections she builds with her patients. “During my nursing career, I’m proud to say I’ve saved many limbs, intestines, organs—and most of all, many lives,” she says. “I’ve also touched many hearts.”

Words of Wisdom

For aspiring nurses and Chamberlain students, Venus offers heartfelt advice: “Believe in yourself. When in doubt, remember: You were chosen for a reason. Stay focused and keep your purpose in mind—whether it’s to help others, provide for your family, or achieve your dream. Those things will carry you through tough times. Most importantly, don’t give up. I know you can do it!”

Her journey—from her family’s work in the Philippines to becoming a nurse practitioner in Georgia—shows just how far dedication and compassion can take you. “Being a family nurse practitioner allows me to combine advanced clinical skills with the compassion and advocacy that are at the heart and soul of nursing,” says Venus. “I feel like Chamberlain prepared me to be an excellent nurse.”

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.