In the bustling halls of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, California, a heartwarming story of resilience and compassion unfolds. Meet Anthony Levesque, this week’s honored Nurse of the Week, whose journey from housekeeping to nursing is nothing short of inspiring.

Not long ago, one patient lay in his hospital bed, feeling lonely and despondent. With no local family to visit him, he became increasingly unhappy as the days passed. But every night, as Levesque cleaned the patient’s room, he stopped and chatted, sharing laughs and stories that brightened the patient’s day. This simple act of kindness sparked a transformative realization for Levesque.

“I saw a smile on his face,” Levesque reflected during a recent phone interview. “It really helped me determine that this is something I absolutely want to keep doing for the rest of my life.”

At just 30 years old, Levesque’s journey has been remarkable. Growing up in Frazier Park, he initially pursued a career in journalism, writing sports for his high school newspaper and interning at The Mountain Enterprise. But after graduating high school in 2012, Levesque shifted gears. He moved to the Santa Clarita Valley to attend College of the Canyons, opting for a practical business degree while taking on a housekeeping job at Henry Mayo.

“I saw the hours online,” Levesque recalled. “It just seemed like an easy position for me. Also, both of my parents had previously worked — and actually still work — at Henry Mayo.”

Little did he know that this job would change his life. Levesque soon discovered his passion for engaging with patients, getting to know them, and supporting them in any way he could. His natural affinity for caring led him to consider a career in nursing.

Enter Melinda Nims, a charge nurse at Henry Mayo, who recognized Levesque’s potential. She encouraged him to think seriously about nursing and lauded his dedication to patient care. “We would talk,” Nims shared. “He would ask me, ‘How could I do better at this?’ Or he would come to me and say, ‘I’ve just cleaned this patient’s room; they really need this. Could you help him with that?’ He became an integral part of our team before deciding to be a nurse.”

Levesque’s persistence was evident. He ensured patients received what they needed, never hesitating to advocate for them. “If a patient needed something,” Nims said, “he would not relent until one of us — one of the nurses, a nurse’s aide, whoever — went and followed through with whatever it was that wasn’t within his scope to do.”

After much encouragement from Nims, Levesque took the plunge in 2016, leaving housekeeping to enroll in a certified nursing assistant program at St. Jude’s Nursing School. It was a significant step, but Nims felt a deep sense of pride as Levesque pursued his new path. “It touched my heart to learn that just a few simple words I shared with Levesque gave him the courage to give nursing a go,” she said.

Completing the CNA program was just the beginning. Because of Henry Mayo’s hiring policies, Levesque had to gain experience elsewhere before returning. He worked for six months at Santa Clarita Post Acute, all while his parents initially expressed concerns about the demanding nature of nursing. “Working in health care, we have to work holidays,” Levesque explained. “We’re away from our families for long periods of time. So, nursing can be quite a difficult profession. But they saw my drive, motivation, and determination to get there, and they opened up to the idea.”

Fast-forward to 2021, Levesque was accepted into the accelerated bachelor’s degree program at West Coast University. He graduated in June, and by September, he was back at Henry Mayo, this time as a nurse. He has been thriving ever since.

As Patrick Moody, director of marketing and public relations at Henry Mayo, noted, Levesque’s journey is not the typical path for nurses at the hospital. “It’s a path that requires tons of drive and determination,” he said.

Nims echoed this sentiment, praising Levesque’s focus and patience. “It may have taken me longer to get to where I felt I needed to go,” Levesque reflected, “but to know all the steps in all these different jobs, and to know the aspects of every job in and out, I feel like it helps me be a better nurse.”

Today, Levesque is a dedicated nurse who recognizes the importance of teamwork in healthcare. The more he learns about the various roles on the team, the more effective they all become in providing patient care.

When asked if he made the right decision, Levesque’s response was a resounding yes. “I have a passion for education,” he shared. “And it’s something that I get to do all the time now.”

While he admits there’s still much to learn—particularly about time management—Levesque is committed to improving every day. Ultimately, it’s about enhancing the lives of others, and he will continue to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal, one patient at a time.

Congratulations, Anthony Levesque, our Nurse of the Week! Your journey is a beautiful reminder of how compassion and dedication can transform lives.

Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.

The post From Housekeeping to Healing: Meet Anthony Levesque, The Nurse of the Week first appeared on Daily Nurse.