05/29/2026
As Nurses Month comes to a close, we're ending with one more incredible story. 🌟 Meet Andrea Merriweather, Nursing Instructor at Concorde Memphis!
Q: What does being a nurse mean to you personally?
A: "Being a nurse means being trusted to step into people's lives when they may be scared, hurting, confused, or unsure of what comes next. It is not just about tasks or skills. It is about paying attention, speaking up when something does not feel right, teaching in a way people can understand, and caring for the whole person. Nursing has shaped so much of who I am. It has taught me how to lead, advocate, stay calm in hard moments, and serve with both knowledge and heart."
Q: What inspired you to become a nurse?
A: "One of the moments that stayed with me happened when I was a small child. There was an elderly gentleman in our neighborhood who would offer to do odd jobs so he could earn enough money to buy food from the local corner store. One evening, my family came home with food from a fast-food restaurant. My mother saw him walking down the street, stopped, gave him her sandwich, and told him to wait while she went inside to get change so he could buy something to drink. By the time we came back to the door, he was gone. That moment stayed with me. It taught me that people can be hurting, hungry, afraid, or in need in ways we may not always recognize. Nursing became the way I could care for strangers, meet people in vulnerable moments, and make an impact when it mattered most."
Andrea, your story is a beautiful reminder of why nursing is so much more than a career — it's a calling. Happy Nurses Month! 💙
