Like many individuals entering the nursing field, CNCC Nursing Instructor, Denise Huff started her 25-year nursing career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.). After completing her C.N.A. she then pursued her Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.) prior to obtaining her R.N. This pathway allowed Denise to enter the nursing field much earlier and allowed her to do what she is passionate about sooner– caring for other people.
Nursing Instructor, Denise Huff. (Photo courtesy of Denise Huff)
Denise really finds joy in being able to provide comfort and care when people need it the most. She likes to approach her patients care as if they were family members. Denise thinks of how she would want her family treated and strives to provide that same level of care. This compassion and outlook is a big reason why Denise makes such a great instructor! She loves working with students in the classroom and clinic setting and seeing when the ‘light goes off’.
“They get to put pieces of the puzzle together that they have been getting and see more of what the picture looks like,” Denise said. “The enjoyment in their faces when they are taking care of patients and experiencing nursing is an amazing experience for me as an instructor,” she continued. “It’s often not until students are in clinicals and taking care of patients that the information they have learned comes together and you see the light come shining through in what I like to call an “ah ha” moment.”
To current and future nursing students her advice is to understand that nursing school is hard, and it will take a lot of time and dedication, but it is worth it! Denise really enjoys teaching and sharing her love for the nursing profession. She is thrilled to be able to still practice nursing, but through a new lens as a mentor and instructor to the nursing students. Her position is a way of still providing care to people, which is the largest reason she pursed this career.
Nursing student and instructor, Denise Huff, during IV labs.
Connect with Denise and learn more about our nursing program at denise.huff@cncc.edu.
