In the quiet moments between caring for a boy with special needs, Hannah Milstone discovered her true calling. What began as a simple job after college unexpectedly illuminated the path her life would take.
“I started a job doing home respite care for a boy who was nine at the time, and I loved having that interaction,” she says. “I wanted to become a nurse because I really wanted to work with people. I started talking to nurses, and I found the motivation to make nursing my career.”
It was a revelation that would redirect Milstone's journey, transforming the University of Vermont graduate with a degree in dietetics and food science into a healthcare professional with an entirely different mission.
The Road Less Rushed
When Milstone arrived at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus, she made a decision that would define her educational experience. While many pursue accelerated programs, she chose the Traditional pathway to earn a BS in Nursing, honoring her learning process.
“I decided I didn’t want to do the Accelerated (UCAN) pathway because I’m the type of person who needs to take time with my classes, and my learning style was going to work better in a two-year program,” she says.
Soon-to-be BS in Nursing grad Hannah Milstone and her family enjoying the outdoors. |
This self-awareness—rare in a world that often celebrates speed over depth—proved crucial to her success.
Balancing Work and School
As bills mounted and her passion for pediatric care deepened, Milstone secured a position as a clinical assistant at Children's Hospital Colorado during her second year of nursing school. It was a decision that would transform her education from theoretical to tangible.
“This job definitely helped me understand my nursing classes,” she says. “It’s given me exposure to things I can anticipate while working as a nurse, and I had a different level of comfortability with certain things in the hospital since I’ve seen it before.”
Yet the dual demands of intensive coursework and hospital shifts pushed her to her limits. In those moments, Milstone discovered that caring for oneself is the foundation for caring for others. Milstone says she’s been able to handle balancing work and school because of her time management skills, but acknowledges it’s hard juggling it all.
“I was reaching points of burnout, so I made sure to take care of my mental health,” she says. “I also reminded myself this schedule was temporary, and Children’s has been flexible and understanding with my school schedule.”
Now, Milstone carries this hard-won wisdom like a torch, illuminating the path for those who follow. She encourages all nursing students to take care of their mental health.
“You need to find little pockets of time every day for yourself, even if it’s sitting quietly for 10 minutes. Pick up a book that’s not a textbook and go into a different world for a while,” she says. “Things like that have helped me a lot.”
Milstone balances her mental health by spending time outside, another reason she chose the college's Traditional pathway.
"I wanted to have time to continue doing the things I love," she says. "I love to hike and take road trips to national parks on a long weekend or over breaks."
Beyond the Expected
Though Milstone initially envisioned herself in labor and delivery, her clinical rotations revealed unexpected possibilities. Each experience—even those outside her comfort zone—contributed to her professional identity.
“There’s always something to learn from every nursing experience,” she says. “Even if you’re going into a clinical you’re not excited about, you’ll learn a lot about the kind of nurse you want to be.”
As she prepares to launch her career in pediatrics, a field where she feels "very comfortable," Milstone carries with her not just academic knowledge but the wisdom that comes from navigating one's own path. Her journey reminds us that sometimes the most important discoveries happen when we step away from our original plans and listen to the quiet voice within that knows exactly where we belong.
