Finishing Well
Finishing Well
A Personal and Professional Reflection
By Mike Peek
I began my nursing career after graduating from an ADN program in 1997 and later completed a BSN in 2015. Over the past twenty‑nine years, my practice has been rooted in cardiovascular care. My early experience included cardiac telemetry, intermediate care, and the operating room. Since joining Mother Frances hospital in July 2001, now Christus Trinity Mother Frances, I have worked in the cardiovascular ICU, the cardiac cath lab, the electrophysiology lab, and for the past five years, the OPCU pre‑cath area. This breadth of experience has shaped my practice and strengthened my commitment to high‑quality, patient‑centered care for Jesus’ sake.
Prior to starting my nursing career, I received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1992 after five years of military service. At that point, I had neither a college degree nor vocational training suitable for civilian work. My first job after the Army was at Target, where I handled stocking and apparel as I considered my future options. Thanks be to the Lord, I had signed up for the G.I. Bill and Army College Fund during my service, which provided me some income via the Veterans Administration while I attended college courses. I studied at Richland College in Dallas for two years and graduated with an Associates of Arts and Science in 1994, though it did not immediately lead to a job. Through my wife, who worked as a surgical technologist, I met several nurses and decided nursing was the right path for me. As I awaited admission to a nursing program, I took a job as a patient transporter at Medical City Hospital in Dallas and began nursing classes at Brookhaven College in the fall of 1995.
As I approach my 58th birthday on May 4, 2026, and consider retirement in my early 60’s, I find myself reflecting on what it means to finish well. I am not looking to change departments or leave the organization. My intention is to continue contributing at a high level and to maintain the professionalism and steadiness that have guided me throughout my career.
With three decades of experience in cardiovascular nursing, I have developed a comprehensive understanding of the pace, urgency, and requirements of this field. At this stage of my career, my priority is to ensure that my remaining years in the profession uphold the same standards of integrity and dedication that have characterized my service from the outset.
Finishing well, for me, means staying grounded in the parts of the job that matter most: timely preparation, safe patient care, effective collaboration, consistency, professionalism, and the quiet satisfaction of doing the work right. It means letting unnecessary noise fade into the background and choosing to focus on the purpose that brought me into nursing in the first place.
I want the closing chapter of my career to reflect steadiness, clarity, and a continued commitment to excellent patient care. I do not need a new job to finish well. I need perspective, balance, and the confidence to let my experience guide me through these final years.
