{"id":145314,"date":"2025-02-24T15:15:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T20:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=145314"},"modified":"2025-04-11T13:27:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T17:27:37","slug":"inspired-by-family-ucf-nursing-student-called-to-care-for-the-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/inspired-by-family-ucf-nursing-student-called-to-care-for-the-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspired by Family, UCF Nursing Student Called to Care for the Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 120 million adults in the U.S. are currently living with cardiovascular disease, and that figure is only expected to rise in the coming years according to researchers at the American Heart Association.<\/p>\n

Behind those startling statistics are patients and their family members like Hailey Glowiak \u201921<\/strong>. Last year, Glowiak\u2019s 87-year-old grandfather woke up with heart palpitations, dizziness and shortness of breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an individual who has always thought he was healthy his entire life with no serious medical problems,\u201d Glowiak says.<\/p>\n

Glowiak, a registered nurse in Volusia County, lives nearby, went to her grandfather\u2019s home and noted an irregular heart rhythm. Her grandfather was transported to the local emergency room where diagnostic tests revealed he was experiencing atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandfather was scared, vulnerable and confused,\u201d she recalls. \u201cUpon discharge, he had many questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Empowered with Education and Empathy<\/h2>\n

\u201cI have seen many patients like my grandfather while working as a registered nurse,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Glowiak found patient education to be a critical tool for her patients and her grandfather \u2014 just like it had been for her and her mom years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing that really stuck with me about my mom’s experience is the nurse that cared for her basically drew a picture, an illustration of the heart, and explained to her the four chambers of the heart and exactly what could be happening to her heart,\u201d Glowiak says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought it was so inspiring and that\u2019s what interested me in nursing in the first place,\u201d says Glowiak.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that there are people in my community that may be hospitalized and don’t have family nearby, and I wanted to be the one to provide comfort and hold their hand. I love it so much.\u201d<\/p>\n