From supply chain to the bedside: Willie Scott’s journey to nursing at Sentara

When Willie Scott joined the Sentara Health team in 2019 as a supply chain warehouse associate, his daily routine involved navigating hospital hallways to deliver critical medical supplies across various units.

While dropping off inventory, Scott found himself watching nurses care for patients during their most vulnerable moments. That front-line compassion sparked something inside him - a quiet realization that this was the work he was meant to do.

Becoming a registered nurse

The transition from warehouse associate to bedside caregiver required overcoming years of hesitation. Academic struggles when he was in high school left Scott questioning whether a healthcare career was within reach.

"I did not make A grades, and I let that self-doubt creep in," Scott said. "But then, once I started working at Sentara, I took one anatomy class and I passed it with an A. From there on, I was like, 'You know what? I actually can do this.'"

Willie Scott as a warehouse associate delivering supplies to nursing units at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

Determined to move into direct patient care without delay, Scott enrolled in the patient care technician (PCT) program at Sentara College of Health Sciences. He completed the program in 16 weeks and transferred to the very unit floor at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital that he previously stocked - this time working as a full-time PCT.

While still transitioning into his new PCT role, Scott began pursuing his nursing degree at Bryant & Stratton College. Sentara tuition assistance, which offers up to $5,250 per year, helped fuel his journey.

"They take off the financial burden so I could just continue to try to flourish and better myself for everyone," Scott said.

During the heightened demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing nursing shortages only solidified his resolve to finish his nursing education.

"Seeing everyone quitting made me want to help more," Scott said. "It made me more driven to hurry up and get into the medical field so I could actually contribute."

Scott graduated with honors, passed his National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), and officially stepped into his new role as a registered nurse earlier this year.

He continues to work in the same nursing unit at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital where he served as a PCT, 4 West medical/surgical.

Patients and colleagues agree: "He has this gift"

For Scott, providing care goes far beyond administering treatments and completing procedural checklists; it is about reaching people when they feel most defeated. That human connection was life-changing for one patient recovering from multiple surgeries.

"I hit my rock bottom and was asking, 'Why am I still here?'" said patient Benny Brocato. "I retreated into my shell and got more and more depressed. Then I met Willie and, in an instant, he changed it around for me."

Brocato said he has two images of himself in his head: a broken man in a bed, and the broken man who decided to keep going. For Scott, seeing that transformation in a patient is the ultimate validation of his career switch.

"Whenever you have a patient who is down in the dumps, having a bad day, and no one else has had success making them happy - when I leave and they're laughing, smiling, and asking for me again, that right there is what keeps me going," Scott said. "Patients remember the treatment you provide, but they remember the care you provide more."

Scott's colleagues on 4 West also notice his dedication and the gift he has for patient care and lifting others up. Team members shared, "If I know Willie is here, I know I will have a good day," describing him as one of the most kind-hearted individuals on the unit.

"All of my coworkers are like my family," Scott said. "We make the day the best that we can. It really doesn't feel like I'm at work. It feels more like a hobby."

Scott stands with Alexandra Schultz (middle), licensed practice nurse, and Caroline Verhappen, registered nurse, who also completed Sentara's patient care technician program.

A career without a ceiling

Scott is already taking the next step in his career journey. He soon begins coursework to become a nurse practitioner, with a long-term goal of practicing emergency medicine and stepping into leadership to advocate for holistic care.

He also hopes his journey encourages other men to consider entering the nursing field.

"In my graduating class, I was one of three," Scott said. "A lot of people have the stigma that it's just a woman's field, but it's not. Men are good in healthcare, too. You shouldn't be afraid to try something you want to try. Just dip your toe in the water and see how it goes."

For anyone facing hesitation or self-doubt, Scott offered straightforward advice grounded in his own path from the warehouse to the unit floor.

"You really can't tell yourself that you can't," Scott said. "You've got to get out of that mindset, because nothing is impossible until you've tried everything. You just have to seek out the opportunities."

Scott's journey is a testament to what's possible at Sentara, where tuition assistance, internal career pathways, and a culture that invests in its people at every level offers team members the tools and opportunities to grow, no matter where they start.