taryn tanner alum of the uci school of nursing in irvine california

Our weekly Alumni Spotlight series features updates on the outstanding graduates of the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing.

Where do you currently work?

Kaiser Permanente Southern California Regional Offices

What is your title?

Quality nurse consultant 

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your life?

I am a bit of a homebody, so staying indoors does not bother me too greatly.

However, I miss the occasional night out with my friends, the ability to head out anywhere on a whim, but most especially, I miss my family and our dinners. The holidays were not the same and it was a struggle. 

What initially drew you to the nursing profession?

I wanted to help people, but becoming a physician would take too many years. My best friend’s mom was a nurse practitioner (now retired) and during high school, I interviewed her and was fascinated. For me, it was the best of both worlds — helping someone and I would not have to be in school for a million years.

Joke’s on me — I have returned to school because I want to do more with my nursing career. Love the options!

What do you love most about being a nurse?

I wanted to be someone who had the ability to help another when they were lost, in pain, or scared. And I love having the knowledge to understand the intricacies of the human body and how to heal.