Clifford Vanvoorhees had climbed the corporate banking ladder, securing a comfortable place in the world of finance. But beneath the suits and the meticulously balanced spreadsheets, a restless spirit craved something more - a chance to truly make a difference in people's lives.
Vanvoorhees had always felt a pull toward the medical field, but the lure of a lucrative career led him down a different road. Yet, while working his 8-to-5 banking job, a longing to be part of a profession where human connection mattered as much as data crunching and spreadsheets stirred.
“I’ve seen nurses working with patients and I felt they always had this extra connection with patients. It wasn’t just about medicine; it was really about the healing and caring aspect," he says.
This realization would eventually turn the life he had built upside down, driving him on a journey of self-discovery.
Following His Heart
Leaving behind the world of banking, he enrolled in the Accelerated (UCAN) BS in Nursing program at the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus.
“Don’t get me wrong. The money is important, but now I’m letting my passion go first and then I’m letting the money follow," he says.
Vanvoorhees acknowledges that the UCAN program is no easy feat. Returning to school can be daunting, so he broke the program down into sections and relied on his classmates.
"It's important to emphasize that nursing is a team sport," he advises. "I wouldn't have gotten through this program if it wasn't for my clinical group, participating in campus activities, and getting to know my professors." Drawing strength from the camaraderie of his classmates, who like him had chosen to forge a new path after earning previous undergraduate degrees.
Now, as he nears the end of his nursing studies, he is excited about the next chapter and aspires to work in a cardiology unit at a local hospital and pursue being a nurse practitioner.
"My heart feels filled, and now I have a new passion,” he says. "Banking was great, but I pursued it for the wrong reasons. I kind of prioritized money, so that’s why I went that route. If nursing is something that you feel in your heart is the right thing to do, then follow that intuition."
Vanvoorhees’ journey is a testament to the power of listening to one's inner voice and the courage to embrace a life-changing transformation.
