Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Palomino.
Stephanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a first-generation Latina who was born and raised in LA. My sister and I were raised by my single mother and maternal grandfather when he could visit from Peru.
Some Saturday’s mornings, my mom tried to get some overtime hours in and would bring my sister and I along for a few short hours. She was a medical biller at a clinic in the Valley, thus sparking my interest in healthcare.
As much as my mom could financially do on her own, she tried to keep my sister and I active. Tennis and gymnastics were two sports that made an impact in my life. I still make my way to the tennis courts when I can, and my love of gymnastics turned into my love of yoga.
After graduating high school, I obtained a Bachelor’s of Science from UCR. There were a few months of serious self-reflection and a deeper dive into what I truly wanted for myself. Healthcare was still the goal. Therefore, nursing checked off all the boxes for my future. I then made my way to San Diego for nursing school.
Once I graduated from my BSN program, RN positions were scarce. I really wanted to stay in LA or SD, knew NICU was my dream, but so much was unknown. Luckily, a unique opportunity for nursing graduates to help launch a new electronic medical charting system at one of LA’s largest health systems led me to where I am now. Of course, I knew this was temporary, but something told me to stay on this path.
I’m glad I listened to my intuition.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a new grad, there was a lot of uncertainty with the nursing freeze, so when there was an opportunity to help launch EPIC at UCLA, I was eager to get my foot in the door. This was a massive launch, and they hired hundreds of new nursing graduates with a big disclaimer. This position did not guarantee an RN position. Once our role as super users for EPIC was complete, there was a surprise: a few RN positions opened. Of the hundreds of new grads, only less than 50 of us were hired to be RNs at UCLA.
Thus launched my now 10+ years as a Neonatal ICU RN at UCLA.
Blessed and grateful for finding where I belong as a nurse and a schedule that allows me to pursue my other passion… yoga!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I fell in love with yoga over 15 years ago, but after my career switch to nursing school forced yoga to take a back seat. Once I landed my dream job as a NICU RN, I always found time to be on my mat, and now I’m a yoga instructor as well.
As a NICU RN in a Level IV unit, I take care of very critical newborns. I get to experience a wide range of roles and see many unique patients. I can be a bedside nurse, resource nurse (who helps with admissions from the delivery room and critical transports), and charge nurse. Being a NICU RN can be bittersweet. One shift I could be taking care of a baby who is working on bottle feeds, getting ready to go home soon, and the next, resuscitating and supporting a family with end-of-life care for their newborn. At times, this can be emotionally charging.
Insert balance… no pun intended.
I find my yoga practice to be more than just movement and meditation. My sanity and self-care is fueled by yoga in so many beautiful ways. I’ve learned a lot about myself through yoga and gained awareness of unhealthy patterns as a younger self. Always a work in progress and a student of yoga.
In 2016, I had the opportunity to use my vacation hours and traveled to Thailand for a 200-hr. yoga teacher training. This was seen as a way to deepen my personal practice. Little did I know the passion it would spark. I’ve been teaching yoga for over 4 years while working nights as a NICU nurse.
Most recently, I completed a comprehensive mentorship and a Sound Practitioner training. Holding space for others with the use of instruments in sound baths is such an honor and has become a lovely complement to my yoga journey.
I’ve also partnered with Operation Happy Nurse (OHN). They provide amazing resources for nurses for free. This includes workout videos. As of today, I’ve filmed three classes for their platform. More classes to come.
Furthermore, in the next few weeks, I’ll be combining my sound healing practice with my nursing career. Ecstatic to team up with the Integrative Health program at UCLA. This is only the beginning. I’ll be sharing my instruments through sound healing at an upcoming faculty retreat for the first time. Nurses’ week is right around the corner, and one of the offerings for the week is to treat both night and day shift nurses to a mini sound bath a few times during the week.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Oh the pandemic! This is one that really threw me off balance.
As a nurse in a critical unit, there was no break or WFH. We kept going, and it remained constant. Some of our busy moments in the unit were during the pandemic with very critical patients. Wearing a mask for a whole twelve-hour shift was one thing. Admitting a COVID-positive patient and going to a delivery for a COVID-positive laboring mother was a whole new adventure… to say the least.
When you sign up to be a nurse, you know you will be working holidays, weekends, and possibly missing out on other social celebrations. You hardly think something like Covid 19 would happen. The pandemic really threw healthcare for a whirlwind.
As a yogi, well things changed too. I had just become a co-owner of a small studio near K Town. Not even a month into this new launch, the pandemic happened. Our lovely studio remained empty. All classes were online or in the park with social distancing. My partners and I had to give up the studio space. As restrictions started to slowly lift, some outdoor events restarted, but the stress of nursing and studio ownership during this crisis was more than I could take on. I briefly got to experience being a co-owner and sometimes wonder how things might have turned out if it had not been for a pandemic.
What a gift to be a part of the yoga community here in LA. I have met so many amazing people in this community who continue to inspire me. Today, I am still working 3 nights, teaching yoga, and holding sound baths. My drive as a female entrepreneur and POC is a constant thrill. There is still so much more I look forward to accomplishing, but definitely enjoy every single step in this journey.
Where can you connect with me:
IG: @yogabysteph
My Instagram and website are updated with my studio and workshop schedule.
You can also join me on OHN’s website with on-demand videos.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yogabysteph.com
- Instagram: YogabySteph
