Dean Telada: From Vegas Stage to Nursing Career

Dean Telada, a ninth-semester student at Arizona College of Nursing's (AZCN) Las Vegas campus, is nearing graduation. His path to nursing, inspired by his mother-in-law, a family medicine nurse practitioner, highlights the field's versatility and stability. A key moment during clinical rotations, when he successfully inserted a Foley catheter for a distressed patient, solidified his calling. "He looked relieved and told me that what I did really helped him out today, and that I'll make it far as a nurse," Telada recalled. "Things like that remind you of why you chose nursing to begin with."

Before pursuing nursing, Telada spent nine years as a professional singer at the Venetian Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. This experience honed his ability to perform under pressure and connect with people. He brought that same energy to AZCN, actively engaging in campus life. Telada served as Student Nurse Association (SNA) President for his campus, organizing events like the upcoming Susan G. Komen Southern Nevada MORE THAN PINK Walk in October, which will include over 100 AZCN students.

Telada also served as Communications Director for the Nevada State Board SNA, connecting nursing programs across the state. Navigating nursing school with hearing loss, he advocates for greater representation in the field. His hearing aids are visible in his Social Scrub Squad videos, where he and other students document their nursing school experiences. AZCN provided him with resources to succeed, teaching him that disability does not limit potential. He also emphasizes the need for more men in nursing, where they comprise only 12% of the workforce, noting that caring values transcend gender.

As graduation nears, Telada is considering specializing in the Emergency Room or Labor & Delivery (L&D). He was deeply moved by his L&D clinical rotations, cherishing the connections made with mothers, despite it being a field where male nurses are rare. "Maybe I'm just the person that will break the barriers. Who knows?" he mused.

His advice to aspiring nurses: take a leap of faith, embrace uncomfortable situations for growth, and celebrate achievements, big or small.