Kayla Bentley
BSN, RN
Family Medicine Clinic and Interventional Pain Clinic
Rapid City Medical Center South
- Tell me about yourself. I was born in Canton, Pennsylvania and moved to Rapid City in 2005. I am engaged to my best friend Drew and we plan to get married in 2022. We have 2 cats who we spoil. I come from a big family. I enjoy being out on the lake and relaxing at home with a book.
- Why did you choose a career in nursing? Originally, I went to college for a degree in medical laboratory science. I decided to pursue nursing after seeing how well my grandfather was taken care of in hospice during his battle with cancer. I felt a huge pull to go into nursing after that.
- How long have you been a nurse? I have been a nurse for 4 years. I started my nursing career in the hospital and later transitioned to family medicine and interventional pain.
- What is most rewarding about your job? The most rewarding part of my job, by far, are the relationships I have built with my patients and peers. I feel lucky to get to know so many amazing people and learn their stories. The colleagues I have met along the way are a huge part of who I am today.
- What do you find most challenging? Being a nurse can be emotionally draining. We give so much of ourselves to others; whether it’s putting on a brave face or a big smile. It’s challenging to go home and turn it off. Finding balance in personal and work life is very important.
- What skills make a nurse exceptional? I believe an exceptional nurse is good at communicating but also great at listening. An exceptional nurse can multitask without seeming rushed, is empathetic and understanding, and is a team player. No one can do it all on their own!
- What advice would you give others thinking about becoming a nurse? It is by no means easy, but it is so rewarding. Being a nurse is a big part of who I am, and I think people who know me would agree with that. Nursing has presented some of my greatest challenges, but also my greatest victories. Nursing is a great option because there are so many avenues you can go down and so many ways to advance your career. I have gained lifelong friends, role models and countless life lessons.
- When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher. I always enjoyed school, and I wanted others to enjoy learning too.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KAYLA AND HEAR WHAT HER NOMINATORS HAD TO SAY ABOUT HER? CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH THEM BY CLICKING BELOW!
