Title: Registered Nurse
Company: Monument Health
Location: SD/USA
Education: BSN, South Dakota State University (2023); Bachelor’s Degree in Intercultural Studies, California
Career History: Registered Nurse, Monument Health (2024-Present); Clinical Assistant, Pain Management Clinic, Monument Health (2023-2024); Certified Nursing Assistant, Avantara Saint Cloud; Lifeguard
Emily Elizabeth Zietlow, Registered Nurse at Monument Health, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of health care.
From a young age, Ms. Zietlow had a strong desire to become a nurse. The aspiration was largely motivated by a series of health challenges her family faced while she was growing up. Experiencing these difficulties firsthand ignited her passion for helping others in similar situations, and allowed her to learn how to provide effective support to those in need.
During her quest to complete nursing school, Ms. Zeitlow found that fulfilling all the necessary requirements took longer than expected. In the interim, she earned her first degree in intercultural studies in California, where she ultimately completed her prerequisites for nursing, and worked for a time as a lifeguard. She then attempted an accelerated nursing program in Tennessee, but found it to be too fast-paced. When COVID-19 hit, she returned homed and began nursing a year after the pandemic, allowing her to return to the classroom.
In the lead-up to graduating from nursing school at the South Dakota State University, which she ultimately did in 2023, Ms. Zeitlow worked as a certified nursing assistant at Avantara Saint Cloud, an Alzheimer’s facility, where she provided long-term term for nearly three years—a role she found extremely rewarding. In pursuit of career advancement, she joined Monument Health in 2023, serving as a clinical assistant in its Pain Management Clinic before starting her current role as a registered nurse. Among her myriad responsibilities, she handles appointments in which people receive steroid shots, medication management, and sometimes procedures like radio frequency nerve ablation.
Ms. Zeitlow, reflecting on her journey so far, attributes her success to her parents, family, and friends, who provided a nurturing and supportive foundation even in challenging times, which greatly helped her. Looking ahead, she aspires to work in the emergency department or the intensive care unit and eventually become a missionary nurse.