Why This Cedar Crest Graduate Chose Med-Surg Nursing at LVHN and Abroad

When Asher Atwood, BSN, RN, started exploring careers, she was sure of one thing: she wanted to care for others. Inspired by generations of nurses in her family, including her mom and both grandmothers, she took her first steps toward nursing as a high schooler. Today, she’s a charge nurse on 7B medical-surgical (med-surg) unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest, a clinical instructor and a passionate advocate for new nurses.

From the moment she stepped onto the unit, Atwood felt the camaraderie and support that would carry her through the toughest parts of the pandemic. Now she’s sharing her story and encouraging other new nurses to find their fit and their future at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).

Atwood grew up in State College, Pennsylvania, and followed her calling to Cedar Crest College in Allentown, a decision that was partially strategic and partly fate. “My mom googled the best nursing schools in Pennsylvania, and Cedar Crest College came up,” she laughs. “It’s not your typical college experience, but it was exactly what I needed.”

Cedar Crest’s tight-knit community and clinical rigor pushed her to excel. “They expected us to be great clinical students, and we were. People knew if you went to Cedar Crest, you were prepared,” she says. Atwood embraced every opportunity: she pursued hands-on learning, bonded with her classmates and even returned after graduation as an adjunct professor.

When it came time to pick a specialty, Atwood knew med-surg was the right foundation. “I always recommend med-surg for new nurses. You don’t always know what you want to do right away, but med-surg will help you figure it out,” she says. “It’s routine enough to feel manageable, but no day is ever exactly the same.”

Atwood now works on a med-surg unit at LVH–Cedar Crest, where she started as a nurse extern before becoming a full-time registered nurse in July 2021. Just six months later, she stepped into a charge nurse role, growing her nursing career.

“It happened fast,” she admits, “but I’ve always naturally been someone who advocates for others. I know what it’s like to not feel supported, and I want to make it better for new nurses coming in.”

Starting as a new nurse during the pandemic wasn’t easy, but Atwood found strength in her team.
“Our unit has incredible communication,” she says. “When one of us goes down, we all pick that person up. That’s just how we operate.”

Support comes in many forms – whether it’s helping with patient care, sharing meals or simply checking in on each other. “The camaraderie, especially on night shift, is spectacular,” she says. “We make the hard days better.”

In just a few years, Atwood has grown her nursing career in multiple directions. She’s pursuing her master’s degree, teaching clinicals at her alma mater and planning her next certification. “I love staying connected to the bedside. It keeps me humble,” she says. “But I also love teaching. It turns out nursing is full of teaching moments, and that’s something I didn’t realize when I first started.”

She’s also traveled the world on nursing missions, including trips to Panama, Tanzania, Belize and Peru, often with other LVHN nurses. “It brings you back to the fundamentals of nursing,” she says. “It’s not about documentation or routine. It’s just about listening to people and helping however you can, from eyeglasses to pain relief.”

If you’re a nursing student or recent grad thinking about where to begin, Atwood has simple advice:
“Join my team,” she says with a smile. “We support each other across shifts and across roles. And med-surg will give you a foundation that will serve you for the rest of your nursing career.”

She encourages new nurses to embrace every opportunity and take time to appreciate the journey.
“Nursing school is tough. The transition to practice is tough. But there’s so much beauty in it too. Take time to sit in those moments and remember what brought you here.”