Andy Liss

I am a nursing student in my final year at Sacramento State University, where I serve as the Sacramento State CNSA Chapter Representative. After serving last year as the Cultural Awareness Committee Chair, I am excited to be elected as your Breakthrough to Nursing Director. 

Prior to returning to school, I worked in the commercial furniture industry, designing and manufacturing custom wood tables for restaurants. Although I thoroughly enjoyed making unique wood furniture, the competition from overseas has made the future of this industry unpredictable. During the last year of my employment, and having less hours at work, I volunteered to become the caregiver of my Grandmother who was suffering from dementia. To help my efforts, I began researching the disease. I found that I was genuinely interested in the scientific research others had completed for dementia and their recommendations for taking care of those with it. My uncle and aunt then suggested that I consider a career in health care. This got me thinking: a position that blends my knack for hands-on work with my passion for science would be my dream. Which is how I decided to pursue a career in nursing.

After seven years of working in the commercial furniture industry, spending more money on ski trips than I care to admit, and assuring my parents that, yes, I actually do plan on graduating from college one day, I returned to school to pursue a career as a registered nurse. As I continue through nursing school, I am inspired by my fellow classmates, and other nursing students I meet across the state, who go above and beyond what they are asked to do.

Goals for 2016-2017:

• Reach out to underrepresented populations in nursing and introduce them to the nursing profession.
• Organize pre-nursing conferences in Northern and Southern California to advise pre-nursing students about what nursing school might be like in different programs.
• Increase mentorship. 

Contact: [email protected]