The chance to make an impact, one life at a time, is what brought Gejuan Cook, RN, back to the bedside. After nearly three decades of pediatric nursing, she took a promotion into administration at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, working as an educational coordinator.

However, something kept nagging at her.

"During that time, the preceptors were my clients, and I trained these people to be part of the team here at Children's," she said. "I always tried to tell them that every opportunity is a chance to change someone's life, but then I realized that I was missing my mission and ministry in life."

A bout with throat cancer in 2001 gave Cook a wake-up call. "I realized that I was only in administration for a season and I belonged at the bedside, so that's where I am today."

Cook, a graduate of Columbus State University, left her administrative job and returned to pediatric nursing in 2003. She's now a trauma nurse in the emergency department at Children's, working directly with patients and their families.

"Every time I interact with a patient can be a life-changing experience, either for me or for the patient," she said. "Whether we respond or brush someone off, if we take a little extra time to talk with them and get to know them, all of this can make a difference."

Cook moved into administration because she was frustrated by the perception that the people making decisions had not walked in her shoes.

"Now I know what it's like for them, too," she said. "It was a wonderful experience, but I'm glad to be back at the bedside."

Keeping her fellow nurses inspired about the impact they have on each patient is part of Cook's mission these days.

"I've been in nursing much longer than these young nurses have even been on this earth," she said. "We older nurses have the opportunity to mentor and teach young nurses who they are and how much they can impact each patient's life.

"So many nurses at the bedside have the chance to truly change people's lives. It sometimes just takes a kind word or an extra minute with a patient to make a difference."