Heather Daniels, LPN
Heather Daniels is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) currently working in correctional nursing. She has been in healthcare since 1999, beginning her career as a medical assistant and gaining experience across multiple specialties, including emergency medicine as a critical care tech, mental health on psychiatric units, pediatrics, family medicine, and OBGYN. She also spent 17 years as a surgical tech in labor and delivery before completing her LPN at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts, in June of last year.
Coming from a family deeply rooted in healthcare, Heather was inspired by her mother, who worked 40 years as a critical care tech, her grandmother, a nurse’s aide, and several aunts who were nurses or CNAs. This strong family influence instilled in her a lifelong dedication to patient care and service.
Heather’s journey to becoming an LPN was marked by perseverance in the face of personal challenges. Shortly after her pinning ceremony, her mother passed away from liver disease, and she simultaneously cared for her father during his kidney cancer treatment. Despite these obstacles, Heather remained committed to achieving her goal of becoming a nurse, motivated in part by the support of her two daughters.
In her current role in correctional nursing, Heather applies her diverse clinical background while combining her interest in psychology and mental health. Her responsibilities include med passes, triaging call slips, and responding to emergency codes. She is also a notary public since 2019, providing additional services to the community. Heather plans to pursue an RN bridge program in the near future, with the intention of continuing in corrections or potentially returning to labor and delivery.
• LPN, Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester, Massachusetts
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Notary Public
• Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance (MOVA)
• Bereavement Committee for Labor and Delivery
• Outreach to Nonprofit Organizations for Fetal Demise Support
• Speaking Engagements with Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Correctional Nursing
- Labor and Delivery
- Mental Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Critical Care
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most about being a nurse is the ability to make a real difference in people’s lives in ways I couldn’t before earning my nursing license. I’ve always had a natural compassion and desire to help, something I jokingly call my “lost puppy dog syndrome.” Ever since I was a child, I’ve been drawn to helping both people and animals. Growing up in a medical family—my mom was a critical care tech for 40 years, my grandmother was a nurse’s aide, and several of my aunts were nurses or CNAs—instilled in me a deep understanding of patient care and service. Being able to apply that compassion every day in my nursing practice is what I find most fulfilling.