Brad Nazworth

Life experiences can shape a career pathway and guide decisions in your life. After working in the insurance industry and as an animal control officer, Brad Nazworth, BSN, RN, was inspired by his time caring for a loved one with a serious illness to explore a career path in nursing.

“As I was caring for my father-in-law, who was critically ill, I discovered I had an aptitude for helping him though that process,” Nazworth said. “Taking care of him motivated me to go back to school and pursue a career in nursing.”

Nazworth is a critical care nurse in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) at Baptist Health. The 20-bed unit is accountable for providing care to critical patients that require a higher acuity of care.

There are many ways to enter into a nursing career. Nazworth attended the University of North Florida (UNF) and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) from the Brooks School of Nursing at UNF. The school offers a wide variety of nursing programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and provides students with clinical experiences prior to graduation.

“I highly recommend UNF’s School of Nursing,” Nazworth said. “The faculty is extremely supportive and has provided helpful connections in my career.”

Nazworth joined Baptist Health in 2014 as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and worked in several different departments within the hospital. He discovered his passion for patient care while working in the ICU.

“I am proud to be an ICU nurse and I would not want to work anywhere else,” Nazworth said.

After graduating with his registered nurse (RN) license, Nazworth was hired to work as a critical care nurse in the MSICU. Critical care nurses perform patient assessments, administer treatment and provide support during recovery. They interact with physicians and other departments within the hospital and they educate patients and their families about patients’ illness and plan of care.

“While the patient is the priority, their family also becomes an important part of your patient’s care,” Nazworth said.

The unit has been nationally recognized with awards including the Daisy Award, honoring the teamwork, collaboration and compassionate care nurses provide for their patients and families. Nazworth says working in the ICU is intensely challenging and extremely rewarding.

“Our unit’s physicians, nurses and other staff work together as a team to support each other and provide the highest level of care to our patients,” Nazworth said. “The ICU provides the opportunity for me to have an impact on a patient’s care every day, and that’s a big deal to me.”

Nazworth is passionate about advancing the nursing profession. He serves on Baptist Health’s clinical informatics committee, which is working to combine traditional bedside nursing skills with advanced healthcare information technology. Nazworth teaches continuing education classes on continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), commonly used to provide renal support for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. He also stays connected with UNF, offering guidance and support to students enrolled in the nursing school program.

“Anyone can learn but you have to have the drive, personality and desire if you want to achieve a career in nursing,” Nazworth said.