When Teaghan Blundell first joined Oswego Health and Rehab, she was a high school student working as a dietary aide. Two career milestones later, she would walk through those same doors as a Registered Nurse.
But first came a simple realization: she wanted more time with the residents—and more ways to help them.
Her teammates noticed that spark and encouraged her to follow it. Through Mission Health’s Learning & Leadership CNA program, Teaghan earned her certification and stepped into a new role as a Certified Nursing Assistant. What began as a high school job was becoming something much bigger.
“Being a CNA at Oswego Health and Rehab was the only healthcare experience I had ever had. I knew pretty much immediately that healthcare was my passion shortly after I started working as a CNA,” Teaghan explained.
It was the people who made the difference. The relationships she built with residents gave her work meaning and made her want to keep learning. In March 2024, she took her next big step: leaving Oswego to attend nursing school.
She was moving forward with plenty of people cheering her on.
Administrator Sharla Hopper and Director of Nursing Amber Smith had encouraged her from the beginning.
“Sharla was one of the first people who really encouraged me to further my career and motivated me to get my CNA. Amber has supported me throughout everything from being a CNA to becoming a nurse now.”
Through the Make-A-Friend Mentorship Program, Teaghan also found a trusted guide in her mentor, Raven. That connection continues today.
“I know that if I ever have questions or concerns, she is more than willing to help me continue learning and growing as a nurse.”
Alongside those mentors were the nurses and CNAs who answered questions, shared their knowledge, and helped her build confidence. Each played a part in helping Teaghan see what she could become.
Then, in March 2026, came the homecoming.
Teaghan returned to Oswego Health and Rehab as the night-shift charge nurse. The community where she had discovered her calling became the place where she would begin her career as a Registered Nurse—with familiar residents, supportive teammates, and a whole new set of responsibilities.
“Mission Health already almost felt like a home to me,” she shared. “Coming back as a nurse has given me the opportunity to continue caring for people I had already grown to care about as well as so many new faces I get to care for.”
She brought more than a nursing degree back with her. She brought the perspective of someone who remembers being a dietary aide and a CNA. Those experiences shape how she cares for residents and supports her teammates. She knows how much each role contributes because she has been there herself.
For Sharla, watching that journey unfold has been especially meaningful.
“Watching her grow from a dietary aide to a CNA and now a nurse has been a privilege. At every step, her desire to spend more time with our residents and do more for them has guided her. We are proud that she chose to grow her career here and grateful that our residents continue to benefit from the heart she brings to her work.”
Teaghan’s story gives Mission Health’s CARES values—Character, Attitude, Respect, Excellence, and Service a familiar face. You can see them in her determination, in the teammates who encouraged her, and in the care that brought her back to Oswego.
For anyone wondering whether to take their own next step, she offers this advice:
“Take the first step. Do not let fear hold you back. You absolutely do not have to have everything figured out in the beginning.”
A first job. An encouraging teammate. A chance to learn. For Teaghan, those steps opened the door to a career—and led her home again.
“I am really glad I took the chance to continue my education, and maybe my journey can encourage someone else to do the same.”
