Laurie Goldberg, 36, didn’t start out as a nurse. After growing up in Reisterstown and graduating from Franklin High School, Goldberg went to York College of Pennsylvania to pursue a degree in criminal justice. Following graduation, she worked at law firms.
But her dad always told her that she should be a nurse. When she was already working in the criminal justice field, Goldberg was finally ready to follow her dad’s advice. She went to the Community College of Baltimore County to complete her nursing degree.
Now, Goldberg is a nurse at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC.
She and her husband, Pat Hornburger, live in Finksburg with their two kids.
How did you decide to switch from criminal justice to nursing?
It’s funny because my dad always told me that I should be a nurse, and I didn’t listen. I’ve always enjoyed taking care of people and [watching] medical shows, but I never thought that I could be a nurse. Once I finished college and was working, I thought maybe I should be a nurse. I went back to school and became a nurse. I’m glad I did, because I can’t imagine doing anything else. I worked at Saint Agnes Hospital for five years in an adult neuro stroke unit. So, I worked with adults, and then I went to working with preschoolers. It’s a totally different environment. You get to build different relationships with the kids, with the families, with your coworkers.
What was your dad’s reaction when you said you wanted to be a nurse?
He was so happy. So happy and very proud.
What does a day today in your job look like?
Every day is a little bit different. We have our own office, and we are available to do temperature checks, and if a child’s not feeling well, they come to our office, or we can go to a classroom and check on them. We can [also] help out with injuries. We do a lot of communication with parents, and we help take care of sick kids until parents can get there.
What’s the most fulfilling part about your job?
Some kids who were a little nervous coming to the nurse’s office now know what to do when they come into the nurse’s office. They know that they get a sticker when they’re done and how nurses’ or doctors’ offices aren’t scary, and that we’re really there to help them and to make them feel better. It’s great to build those relationships with the children and the families that are at the JCC.
How would you describe your relationship with Judaism?
We like to make sure that we’re trying to teach our kids the traditions of Judaism and to make sure that we are showing them that holidays are important and spending time with family is important, and to show them the traditions that we did in my family when I was growing up.
What are you most looking forward to about this summer?
My daughter experiencing Camp Louise for the first time this summer. I went from elementary school until high school and my mom went too, so it is really special that my daughter is going.
What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?
We have chickens. We have six chickens, and my kids named them all. We’ve raised them since they were baby chicks. We’ve had them for a little over a year. When the price of eggs went up, my husband [decided we should get them.]
