Enrique Ortiz
Enrique Ortiz, R.N., B.S.N., CCRN
Hunt School of Nursing Alumnus Excels in the ICU
Graduated: Hunt School of Nursing, 2018
Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Traveling Nurse:
Whether finding the “secret” coffee and snack room, or spending late nights studying with his peers, Enrique Ortiz’s time at the Hunt School of Nursing was memorable, and it catapulted him to a successful health care career.
“Since I was a child, I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I’d have a positive impact on others,” Ortiz said. “I never thought I’d do nursing until I was exposed to it and saw how amazing nurses are.”
For several years, Ortiz worked as a critical care technician in the intensive care unit of a San Antonio hospital. It was there he set a goal of providing a higher level of patient care, first by becoming a registered nurse, with future plans of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist.
Today, Ortiz is a traveling nurse currently working in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Before starting his career, he attended the Hunt School of Nursing in his hometown of El Paso.
“The Hunt School of Nursing was the only school that made the application process personal,” Ortiz remembered. “All my questions were answered, and if the admissions office could allocate that much quality to their admissions process, I knew the instructors would do the same with curriculum. I was correct.”
The school’s curriculum, including clinical rotations, prepared Ortiz and his peers for real-life scenarios they’d face once becoming nurses, especially now, as they’re serving during a pandemic. One challenge, he said, was the feeling of stage fright when speaking to patients and their families. However, using the experience he gained during rotations, he adapted to new environments and had quality conversations with his patients.
His educational experiences also prepared him for triumphs and memorable moments.
“It never fails to empower me when I advocate for my patients and have a positive impact on their care,” Ortiz said. “When patients are in the hospital, they’re typically in a vulnerable state, which is why gaining their trust is always an achievement.”
He said his most triumphant moment came the first time he assisted an open-heart surgery patient’s recovery. “I applied my knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to safely meet the surgeon’s goals.”
As the Hunt School of Nursing celebrates its 10-year anniversary, Ortiz expects many more decades of success. “I’d like to see the Hunt School of Nursing continue to grow its graduate program and maintain their student-centered curriculum,” he said.
As for his own career, Ortiz’s future looks bright. Since being at St. Anthony’s Hospital, he’s trained his fellow nurses on Impella, a cardiac device that provides stability to the heart during procedures to open clogged arteries – all while still caring for patients in the CVICU. His childhood dream of making a positive impact has come true.