From toy designer to ICU nurse: Elda Holbrook shares her journey on Harper Talks

Elda Holbrook never expected to become a nurse. A toy designer in her native Venezuela before moving to the U.S. and becoming a medical interpreter, Holbrook discovered a new calling during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the latest episode of Harper Talks – in which Harper College alumni share their education, career and life journeys – the 2024 graduate reflects on the experiences that led her to the Harper Nursing Program and ultimately to the neuro intensive care unit at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Today, Holbrook embraces the intensity of caring for patients experiencing strokes and other neurological emergencies.

“It’s really high stress. I love it,” Holbrook said. “I do like ICU and emergency, like those kind of like high-stress environments. It’s so rewarding … I feel so good being able to help people, being able to make them feel calm.”

Listen to the full episode of Harper Talks as host and Associate Professor Maham Khan talks with Holbrook about the impact of the HOPE Scholarship, which allowed Holbrook to reduce her work hours and focus on her education, and a Harper study abroad experience examining South Africa’s health care system that reinforced her decision to pursue nursing.

Harper Talks, a co-production between Harper College Radio and Harper Alumni Relations, features Harper staff and faculty in conversation with Harper alumni about the role that the college played in their lives. You can listen to past episodes of Harper Talks on Harper’s website, WHCM, and on all podcast streaming services, including Spotify and Apple.