Mary Potratz RN

Hi, my name is Mary Potratz. I live in Van Dyne, Wisconsin. I’ve been an RN for a year. I was working as an LPN for 11 years and decided I wanted to do more for my patients. I wanted to be able to help make decisions, and make their stay a little more comfortable. I wanted to have the knowledge, and to get paid more for what I was already doing, and be able to have a voice in the healthcare system. It was kind of a shortcut for me because I didn’t have to drive up 35 miles to school, sit for an hour in a class, drive home another 35 miles, and then try and get my homework, or school work, or paperwork.

The support I received from Rue was excellent. Anytime I had a question, I would call them. The Rue staff was really helpful in that I could call them up and they would either refer me to someone or they would find somebody right away to answer my questions ... and it really didn’t matter what time of day it was.

Moving from an LPN to an RN has really boosted my confidence. It’s made me feel so much happier in this role. This is what I was meant to do. If I can do it with five kids - and I worked part time - I think anybody can do it. I had a goal and I was so focused on that goal that I met it. It is such an awesome feeling when you meet your goals - and that’s a big goal to meet.

Set your goals and meet them. If you have to, make your goals small, meet them, and reward yourself, but keep going. You can do it. If I did it with five children and working part time, I think anybody can do it. You can find the time. You just have to look for it hard enough. And, if little things don’t get done, they’ll get done when you’re an RN. You will feel so good when you’re done. It is an awesome feeling when you get that diploma in your hand that says you’re a registered nurse – that you have passed.