The Path to Nursing: Recognizing the Diverse Careers of Interwell’s Registered Nurses 

A career rooted in patient care

While Emily Morey’s nursing career began in 2014, her interest in healthcare was seeded long before. A wilderness first responder course sparked her initial curiosity when she was 18 years old. It set her on a path that led to obtaining her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license and working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She became a registered nurse after graduating from nursing school in 2014.

Since then, Emily has embraced a variety of roles, spanning dermatology, vaccine clinics during COVID-19, primary care, and specialty care. However, it was her work in nephrology, particularly with dialysis patients, that truly captured her interest. While working overnights in long-term care, she had a conversation with a colleague who introduced her to dialysis nursing, which, at the time, offered an appealing blend of a manageable work schedule and a fast-paced environment. She discovered a fascination with the intricacies of kidney disease progression and a desire to help patients avoid end-stage kidney disease. Her ability to teach and empower patients has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

Now, with four years of dialysis experience and three as a care manager, Emily continues to dedicate herself to helping patients manage—and, when possible, prevent—the challenges of kidney disease. She says she has an analytical mind that helps her enjoy digging into the complexities of patient care. “I want to find high-risk patients sooner and focus on prevention,” she explains.

Emily is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing, with plans to advance into healthcare analytics. For her, this isn’t just about personal growth, it’s about leveraging data to improve patient outcomes on a broader scale. “I see there’s a lot of opportunity to be using the information we have in better ways,” she says. “I’m really interested in going into healthcare analytics to use my nursing background and my understanding of what that data really means to be able to find those high-risk patients sooner and do more preventative work to protect them.”

To aspiring nurses, her advice is straightforward yet encouraging. “Nursing isn’t easy, but the opportunities are immense. There’s a place for everyone in this field,” she emphasizes, highlighting the breadth of roles and career paths. “It’s absolutely worth putting in the effort to get the education.”

Hear Emily share how she helps patients avoid the “crash” into dialysis on the Kidney Health Connections podcast.

A dedication to education born from nursing  

After starting her career in retail management, Esmi Kubecka found herself seeking a profession with stability and a greater sense of purpose. Inspired by a family of nurses, Esmi decided to start a career in nursing in 2016.

“I wanted to find a place where I’d always have a job and nursing was it,” Esmi says. "My aunt and other relatives in the profession showed me what it truly means to care for others."

Her fascination with nephrology quickly became the focus of her career. “The kidney is such a vital organ, but it’s the patients that truly capture my heart,” Esmi says. “Their resilience made me fall in love with this field.” Over the years, Esmi worked in various roles, from hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis to clinical management and patient education, gaining holistic expertise in renal care.

After years of direct patient care, Esmi shifted her focus to education, driven by her passion for empowering healthcare professionals. She earned a master’s in nursing administration in 2020. Now, as a clinical trainer at Interwell, she plays a critical role in preparing nurses for success in the field.

Her day-to-day work involves onboarding newly hired Interwell nurses through a comprehensive curriculum, teaching basic and advanced skills, and even listening in on their first patient calls. Esmi describes these moments as her “graduation moments” for the nurses she trains, expressing pride in their ability to confidently apply what they’ve learned.

Her enthusiasm for education is rooted in a deep desire to see others grow. “Education has always been my passion. Whether I’m working with patients or nurses, supporting someone’s learning process brings me joy,” she explains. "Seeing nurses progress, gain confidence, and even share their successes with me later—that is what drives me."

For those considering a career in nursing, Esmi emphasizes the endless opportunities it can provide, particularly in specialized fields like nephrology, where nurses can make a profound impact. “Nephrology nursing is often overlooked, but it’s incredibly rewarding,” she says. “These patients are facing challenging times in their lives, and as nurses, we have the chance to support them in ways that truly matter.”

Looking forward, Esmi is passionate about continuing to impact patient outcomes, not only through direct care but also by equipping nurses with the skills and confidence to excel in their profession.