02/09/2026
𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲
For more than a decade, Julyann Callender has been caring for patients, helping them through some of the most difficult moments in their lives and supporting them on the road to recovery.
A registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Julyann has been part of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) since February 14, 2014. Over the years, her career has taken her from the Emergency Room to the Catheterisation Laboratory and, ultimately, to adult cardiology.
Her nursing journey began in the Emergency Room, where no two days were the same.
“It teaches you to think on your feet,” she says.
Working in an environment where patients often needed immediate attention taught Julyann how to remain calm under pressure, make quick decisions and stay focused on what matters most: the patient.
In March 2016, when the Cardiology Certificate Programme began under Dr. Terrence Haynes, Julyann saw an opportunity to take her career in a new direction.
At the time, she was working with children with heart conditions in the Catheterisation Laboratory. While the experience was invaluable, caring for seriously ill children was emotionally challenging.
“With children, you think about what they could have been when they grew up,” she explains. “With adults, it’s still painful, but it’s less traumatic because they’ve had the chance to live part of their lives.”
She eventually transitioned into adult cardiology, a move that allowed her to continue developing professionally while caring for patients living with heart disease.
As the cardiology programme expanded from a certificate programme into a full degree programme, Julyann continued her studies, completing her advanced training in 2025.
For her, education is about more than earning another qualification.
“I think the more you know, the better you can care for your patients,” she says.
That belief continues to shape the way she approaches her work.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫
For Julyann, one of the most rewarding parts of nursing is seeing a patient get better.
Sometimes, she is reminded of the impact of her work long after a patient has left the hospital.
She often encounters former patients in public, who greet her with a familiar “Hey, Nurse!”
“When you’re a nurse, you almost lose your name. Everyone just calls you nurse,” she laughs.
But those simple greetings mean a great deal to her. They are reminders that the care she provided mattered.
Her hope is always that patients can leave the hospital feeling better and return to their families, routines and everyday lives
𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
Working in cardiology has also changed the way Julyann views heart disease.
One of her concerns is the number of younger people now presenting with serious heart conditions.
She remembers a time when heart attacks were more commonly associated with people in their sixties. Today, she sees patients in their thirties experiencing significant heart problems.
Julyann believes that knowing your own health is an important part of prevention.
Many people may not know their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, laboratory results or family history. Without this information, it can be difficult to understand personal risk or recognise when something may be wrong.
Diet and lifestyle also play an important role. Regularly consuming foods that are heavily fried or high in salt, along with other unhealthy habits, can contribute to the risk of heart disease.
Her advice is simple: know your numbers, know your family history, and pay attention to your health.
“Ask yourself what your risk factors are,” she says. “Check your blood pressure, learn about your family history, and speak with your doctor or visit your health centre.”
She also encourages people to be mindful of the health information they consume online. While the internet can be a useful source of information, not everything shared online is accurate.
“When it comes to your health, speak with a healthcare professional,” she advises.
𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞
For anyone considering a career in nursing, Julyann is honest about the profession's demands.
Nursing can be challenging, but it can also be deeply rewarding.
Her advice to young nurses is to remember why they chose the profession in the first place: to care for people.
Nursing school provides the foundation, she explains, but working with real patients brings situations that cannot always be found in a textbook. She encourages nurses to hold on to what they have learned and, above all, to treat every patient with kindness and respect.
Patients may be frightened, in pain or uncertain about what will happen next. Sometimes, a little patience, compassion and understanding can make a difficult experience easier.
Julyann also knows that quality patient care is never the responsibility of a single person.
Nurses work alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals, making communication and teamwork essential.
There are times when a nurse must advocate for a patient and ensure their concerns are heard. There are also times when listening, discussing the situation and working together as a team leads to the best solution.
At the heart of it all is one shared goal: helping the patient get better.
𝐀 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞
More than ten years after beginning her nursing career, Julyann continues to find meaning in her work.
For her, nursing is not simply about caring for someone while they are in the hospital.
It is about helping them get back to their families, routines, and the life they had before their illness.
And sometimes, it is about being remembered simply as “Nurse.”
GPHC celebrates Julyann Callender and the many nurses and healthcare professionals who continue to serve with knowledge, compassion and purpose.
