Nina Britton | Silverfox Homecare Services

Featured Interview

What year did you start in your industry?

We are a new Homecare agency scheduled to open February 2022 in the Colorado Springs area upon final approval by the State of Colorado. In the Future, we intend to expand our services to include NEMT services (Non Emergency Medical Transportation) and DME (Durable Medical Equipment) services.

What Certifications, Degrees, Titles and Experience do you have in your industry?

I have been a Registered Nurse for over 24 years. I graduated from the University of Southern Colorado in 1993 with a bachelor’s in nursing. Upon graduating, I went to OCS (Officer Candidate School) and received a Commission of 2nd Lieutenant into the United States Army. In 2010, I received a M. A. in Health Care Administration and I currently hold a Certification as a Certified Case Manager (CCM) as well as a Certification as a Certified Managed Care Nurse (CMCN). During my Nursing career, I have worked in the areas of Medical -Surgical, Post-partum, Public Health, Home Health, Same-Day-Surgery and Case Management.

Why & How did you get involved in your industry?

I grew up knowing that I wanted to be in the healthcare field. I initially wanted to be an Obstetrician but quickly learned that it did not provide the kind of long-term personal interaction I wanted to have with those I served. During my teenage years, I assisted with the care of an uncle that developed Multiple Sclerosis because of being exposed to Agent Orange while serving his county in Vietnam. It was during this period that I came to know and learn about the field of nursing. I enjoyed learning how to properly take care of him and the bonding that occurred between us as a result of this shared experience.

What do you love most about your role in your industry?

I feel like Nursing and providing personal care services to individuals reflects the heart and soul of healthcare. Nurses are there during every aspect of care. Nurses are trained to do everything from therapeutic communication to providing specialized skills such as intravenous administration. I love that nursing is the same no matter where you go in the world. It allows me to meet people of all nationalities, cultures, and religious beliefs. Nursing is simply one of the rare occupations where you don’t have to speak the language to provide a service. No matter who you are, when you as a nurse hold a patient’s hand or open your arm to provide a hug to show you care, words are not necessary. Col

What encouragement would you give to those who are interested in being in your industry?

Providing high quality care is not an easy task but is should always be the goal. Healthcare requires commitment and passion. Your decisions may impact a person’s life forever therefore every act should be well thought out and executed. While there can be great financial benefit in this industry, that should not be the primary reason you pursue getting into the healthcare field. At its basic level, the healthcare field is basically customer service. You are there to serve and joy comes in knowing you made a positive difference in a person’s life.

What obstacles have you overcome, or are you overcoming to excel in your industry?

I think it’s important to understand that out of approximately 2, 824,641 Registered Nurses in the United States, African American Nurses only represent about 9.9% or about 279,600 of that population. (Minority Nurse 2021). When I became a Registered Nurse, I quickly learned when I entered a room, it was assumed I was a paraprofessional, more specifically the CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). More times than I care to recall, I was given the more complex and higher acuity patients on the floor along with higher caseloads. But I learned to use this as an opportunity to craft my skills. The ultimate payoff was when on occasion, I had an African American patient and they realized I was THEIR nurse and they appreciated having a Nurse that looked like them, talked liked them and seemed to understand them. For this reason, among others I resolved to one day open my own healthcare facility although I was not sure what kind of facility. I’m now in the process of opening my own Non-Medical Healthcare agency despite there being very limited opportunities to obtain mentorship in this field for African Americans. I’m building my own path and hope to be that mentor for the next person of color that wants to pursue a similar dream.