From housekeeper to social worker

How this single mom achieved a Master's Degree and her dream job

In 2011, Tandria Gore's life took a turn when the young, single-mother and college grad had to move with her son back home with her parents and take a job in housekeeping at Dosher to make ends meet.

"I was going through a rough time. I already had a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, but I knew that wasn't what I wanted to do. I like helping people. I like getting them a better outcome in life," Tandria says.

One night while cleaning the Emergency Department (ED), Tandria heard about an opening for a CNA (certified nurse assistant, now called PCT, patient care technician), so she earned her CNA license and applied for the job.

"She's a go-getter, a real hard worker. We felt she would be a good fit for the Emergency Department," Patient Care Director JoAnn Turzer-Commesso, RN, says, about hiring Tandria.

But what Tandria saw in her new role in that department broke her heart.

"There were a lot of older people neglected by their families and having to stay in the emergency room for long lengths of time. That started making me want to do something to help," Tandria says.

She decided to become a social worker, which wasn't easy. It meant going back to school full time while working full time and doing it all as a single mom.

"There were a lot of times I wanted to quit, but my mother and my son would say, 'You can do it.' That's what motivated me," Tandria says.

Today she still is working in the Dosher Emergency Department (ED), but as a Master's Degree-holding social worker and PCT.

"Tandria has a big heart and she's on top of everything, keeping things organized and making sure things are running smoothly. She's a real asset to the department," ED Team Leader, Joan Alsbury, RN, says.

"It's hard going to school full time and working, but if it's something you are striving to do and you want to do…in the end it will pay off tremendously," Tandria says.

"We are all so proud of her, she did it all on her own," Joann says.

Thinking of going back to school? Tips from Tandria

1. Have a good support system. "I couldn't have done it without the support of my family."

2. Squeeze in study time every chance you get. "I did it in increments. If I had a 30-minute break, I was doing my school work. Before work, after work, on the weekends, any moment I had I was doing my school work."

3. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. "It's hard. You may have to give up some things to do it, but in the end, it will pay off tremendously."