Michelle Odea, CNA
Michelle Lynn O’Dea has been a dedicated Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) since 2011, bringing compassion, expertise, and a strong commitment to every patient interaction. She earned her CNA certificate from Northwest Pathways in 2011 and is currently completing her prerequisites for nursing school, with plans to attend a campus in the Seattle area. Michelle’s extensive clinical experience spans oncology, telemetry, med-surg, dementia, Alzheimer’s care, head injuries, and care for quadriplegic and paraplegic patients, including those requiring tube feeding. She has provided care across skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and hospital settings, most recently contributing her skills at Providence Healthcare and North Florida Regional Medical Center. Michelle also holds Nurse’s Delegation and Diabetes Delegation certifications, allowing her to administer medications and manage blood sugar testing and insulin administration in assisted living environments.
Michelle’s approach to patient care is deeply influenced by her personal experiences growing up as an only child of a single mother who faced mental health and substance challenges. These experiences instilled in her a profound understanding of the importance of compassionate, attentive care and ensuring that no patient feels neglected or overlooked. She finds fulfillment in connecting with people, bringing smiles to their faces, and providing comfort during difficult moments. Her passion for hospital work stems from the extensive training opportunities it offers and the chance to continually learn and grow professionally.
Looking ahead, Michelle plans to earn her RN with a BSN within the next five years and eventually pursue a Nurse Practitioner license, with aspirations to take on a leadership role in a hospital setting. She is also interested in obtaining her CNA Compact license to explore travel nursing opportunities. Based in Everett, Washington, Michelle is preparing to return to work in mid-April 2025 and is exploring opportunities with institutions such as Skagit Regional Hospital, Anacortes Rural Hospital, Harborview, and Swedish Medical Center, where she can continue to apply her expertise, expand her clinical skills, and make a meaningful impact on patient care.
• CNA Certificate - Northwest Pathways - 2011
• CNA certificate
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Oncology
- Telemetry
- Med-Surg
- Dementia
- Alzheimer's
- Head Injury
- Quadriplegics
- Paraplegics
- Tube Feeders
- Skilled Nursing
- Rehab
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I like that you get to stay busy, and I like that every day is different. You might have the same patients, especially in a hospital setting that are there for a little while, but every day is different. You always have new people that you're meeting. When you get to float, you get to see different people, you get to learn different things that maybe you don't on your home unit. I'm like a little sponge, I just want to learn everything that I can. I love being able to train newer CNAs, because it helps me stay focused on what I'm doing as well. I think it's just the learning and connecting with people overall, and just bringing peace, just being there to calm people and be like, hey, it's okay, you are not alone. I'm here for you. I love connecting with people. I love helping people in any capacity. We're all human, living on this earth, that's not the most pleasant place to be sometimes. So if I can bring a smile to somebody's face and bring comfort to somebody, that makes me comfortable. It's just what we should be doing for each other. There's something with nursing that you go home every day, whether it was a good day or a bad day, and I absolutely take every shift that I work as a blessing. Every family that I've got to work with is a blessing.