SXU Nursing Grad Excels, Makes Big Impact in First Nursing Job
Saint Xavier University (SXU) alumna Mary Rabadi '21 is less than a year out of school and is already making big impressions in her career as a nurse at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
Rabadi graduated from SXU in spring 2021 with a bachelor's degree in nursing and minor in psychology. She passed the NCLEX on her first attempt and became a registered nurse in Illinois in August. Soon after, she landed a position as a cardiac/telemetry nurse at Silver Cross.
Four weeks into her orientation, she received words of gratitude from the family of a patient she cared for, who praised her for continuously putting patients first and going the extra mile to ensure the highest level of patient satisfaction and outcomes.
"Those words of gratitude mean the world to me! Receiving this kind of message affirms I am in the right profession. In just the few short months that I've been a nurse, I have learned valuable lessons from two key figures in my life: my mom, Lobna Rabadi, an ER nurse, and my sister, Tammy Rabadi, a fellow SXU alumna and ER nurse. I learned the amount of knowledge and ability to provide high-level care is expected by our patients, but the kindness and empathy we show them is what makes a difference during their hospitalization," said Rabadi.
Rabadi partly credits her decision to study nursing to her parents, who instilled in her the importance and value of giving back.
"I want to continue serving the health care needs of today's rapidly changing health care environment. Now that I have professional experience as a nurse, I feel I have the power to change lives and make a difference. Being a patient advocate is a responsibility and a privilege. It allows me to assist the public with increasing their quality of life. The nursing profession fulfills my sense of purpose," said Rabadi.
Rabadi enjoys most about nursing the ability to work with and care for people of all walks of life. She also finds it's the perfect career to advance one of SXU's core values, learning for life.
"Learning never comes to a halt as a nurse. There is always a new skill, new procedure, new medication and new disease to be educated on. There are many pathways to take in nursing and my education at SXU will open up so many opportunities," said Rabadi.
While at SXU, Rabadi was heavily involved in campus life through extracurricular activities and service trips. She had a work study position at the Shannon Athletic and Convocation Center, where she rose to a managerial position within less than two years. She finds that much of the skills she gained as a student supervisor are transferable to the nursing field and that she continues to use customer service, communication, time management and leadership skills daily. Some of her favorite memories of SXU are tied to her time at the Shannon Center, which she calls her home away from home. She continues to stay in touch with her former supervisors and coworkers.
Rabadi was also the secretary for the Student Nurses Association (SNA), a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the nursing honor society, and a member of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society.
In the future, Rabadi plans to grow into a more competent nurse and earn future certifications that will contribute to her knowledge and skill base. She hopes to eventually become a nurse practitioner and will continue to forever learn.