During National Nurses Week, we pause to honor the compassion and dedication that nurses bring to every corner of our communities. Today, we shine a light on Nettie, a registered nurse of 19 years whose journey has taken her from emergency rooms to emergency response, now serving as the Chief Operational Officer of the American Red Cross Indiana Region.
Nettie began her career at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, where she spent part of her career in the emergency room. “Working in emergency medicine taught me to be flexible and adaptable,” she says. “That mindset has been essential in my new role, especially when responding to disasters where things change by the hour.”
In her last seven years at Riley, Nettie transitioned into leadership, overseeing all operations for the emergency department, “I managed everything from staffing to finances to supplies—operations in every sense,” she explains. “That experience translated directly to the Red Cross, where I now support teams responding to crises with the same sense of urgency and purpose.”
Last year, shortly after joining the Red Cross, Nettie deployed to southern Georgia in response to Hurricane Helene. During the deployment, she gained hands-on experience in disaster response operations, including sheltering and feeding, before transitioning into a full nursing role. “It was community health nursing at its core,” she recalls. “Helping people replace medications, wheelchairs, or walkers. Making sure their homes would be safe to return to. It was about meeting people where they were and helping them get back to a sense of normalcy.”
In Georgia, Nettie also discovered and learned about staff health, “we had hundreds of volunteers and staff on deployment. They need care, too. If someone gets injured or sick, they need support so they can continue serving others safely,” mentions Nettie. She most recently deployed again locally as staff health with our disaster response to the severe weather that affected our region in April.
For Nettie, the most memorable part of deployment was the people, “I met volunteers from across the country, each with their own reasons for being there, but united in purpose. And then there are the community partners—the firefighters, health departments, local officials—everyone pulling together to support the people affected.”
Now eight months into her role as Indiana Region COO, Nettie continues to be amazed by the range of services the Red Cross provides. “Even now, I’m still learning all that we do—blood services, military support, disaster response, community education. It’s humbling and inspiring.”
Looking ahead, she would like to continue growing in her role and within the organizations. “Whether in a hospital or in disaster relief, operations is about solving problems and getting people what they need to succeed. That’s nursing. That’s leadership. That’s service,” Nettie concludes.
Written by Isis Chaverri, Regional Communications Director.