Meet the Transplant Nurse Changing Lives Every Day

“I never thought nursing was an option for me.”

Although Sydney Nau had always admired nurses and taken healthcare electives during high school, her career initially took a different direction. Before entering healthcare, Nau worked in luxury sales without imagining she would one day become a nurse.

“I always admired nurses, but I never believed I was capable of becoming one myself. The moment I truly knew nursing was my path was when I watched the nurses caring for my dad during his illness,” Nau recalled. “Their compassion, knowledge, and ability to care for both him and our family left a lasting impression on me.”

As she watched the nurses caring for her father, she saw firsthand the impact healthcare professionals can have not only on patients but also on the families who stand beside them.

“After the passing of my dad, I left a career in luxury sales and decided to pursue nursing so I could be the person I needed, my family needed, and my dad needed during his illness. My personal experience is the reason I do what I do. It is my driving purpose.”

Today, Nau serves as an Assistant Nurse Manager on a specialized liver and transplant progressive care unit while pursuing two Master of Science in Nursing degrees simultaneously in Executive Leadership and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Her personal experience continues to shape the way she approaches patient care.

“I walk into every patient room and care for patients and families the same way I hoped someone would care for mine. When I’m tired, I remind myself that my patient is probably more tired. When I’m hungry, they’re likely hungrier. I get to go home at the end of my shift, but they don’t,” Nau explained.

When she decided to pursue nursing, Nau had previously completed an associate degree in Paralegal Studies at Keiser University, which felt like a natural choice. She was familiar with the university academic environment.

“As someone with no prior college experience, I found the university approachable, supportive, and invested in student success. I wanted an education that would challenge me and prepare me for the realities of nursing, and Keiser delivered exactly that,” Nau noted.

The program tested her resilience and helped develop skills she continues to rely on in her leadership role today.

“Keiser taught me more than clinical skills—it taught me resilience, accountability, and confidence. The program was demanding, and there were many moments when I questioned whether I could keep going,” Nau reflected.

The experience that led Nau to transplant nursing

During nursing school, one of her closest friends, Lauren, was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and needed a transplant. Lauren spent months on the same unit where Nau now works. Although Lauren never received the transplant she needed, the experience helped shape Nau’s professional path.

“I watched the nurses care for her with extraordinary compassion, dignity, and respect. Through Lauren’s journey, I fell in love with the people on that unit and their unwavering commitment to saving every life they could.”

Today, Nau works with patients facing some of the most critical moments of their lives. While transplant nursing can be emotionally demanding, it also offers opportunities to witness remarkable recoveries.

One patient, whom Nau refers to as “A” to protect her privacy, remains one of her most memorable examples.

When the patient arrived on the unit, she was critically ill and urgently needed a liver transplant. Her family remained by her side for more than 40 days, supporting her through every challenge and setback.

“There were moments when we truly didn’t know if she would survive long enough to receive a transplant,” Nau recalled.

But she did.

Today, the patient is thriving, and Nau remains in touch with her.

“Watching her rebuild her life after transplant, and celebrate occasions with her family, reminds me why I chose this specialty. Her story represents hope, resilience, and everything transplant nursing stands for. “Transplant nursing is heartbreaking at times, but it is also filled with incredible success stories,” Nau reflected.

While building her clinical and leadership experience, Nau also developed a strong passion for mental health.

“I know I want to be a leader, but I also know that effective leadership requires a deep understanding of mental health,” Nau explained.

Her interest is focused on two areas in particular: supporting nurses and caring for individuals living with substance use disorders. Working on a liver unit has exposed Nau to the challenges many patients face while struggling with addiction.

“I believe everyone deserves someone who believes in them. Everyone deserves compassion, dignity, and a chance to heal,” Nau emphasized.

At the same time, she believes healthcare organizations must do more to support nurses facing burnout, compassion fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

“Nursing requires giving pieces of yourself to others for twelve hours at a time. It is emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting work,” Nau pointed out.

Balancing leadership responsibilities with graduate studies is not always easy

“To be completely honest, some days I barely do”

The workload requires sacrifices, including long hours, limited free time, and constant focus. Still, Nau remains committed to her long-term goal of creating positive change within healthcare.

“I know this work is preparing me for a future where I can make meaningful changes for both patients and nurses.”

Looking ahead, Nau hopes to combine healthcare leadership, clinical practice, and mental health advocacy into a career dedicated to supporting both patients and caregivers.

“A healed patient cannot exist without a healthy nurse,” Nau said.

For Nau, the mission is simple: create environments where patients feel cared for, and healthcare professionals feel supported.

“I hope every patient I encounter feels seen, heard, and cared for,” Nau added.

Her advice for nursing students facing obstacles reflects the same determination that guided her own journey: “Don’t quit. Keep going. There will be moments when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning whether you can do it. Keep going anyway.”

For Sydney Nau, those words are more than advice. They are the philosophy that transformed personal loss into a career dedicated to caring for others.