Charlene “Charlie” Atherley knew for decades she wanted to be a nurse.
The path there, however, was not always straightforward.
“I’ve been trying to be a nurse since 1993,” Atherley said. “Life interrupted a lot of things, but it brought me back at the right time, with the right people.”
Now at 51 years old, Atherley reflects on a journey that required persistence, faith and resilience. In 2021, Atherley graduated from AdventHealth University Denver with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After relocating to Houston shortly after, she began working in mental health nursing, a field she quickly realized felt like home. This is a year of milestones for Atherley, having recently earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree (with a specialization as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) from Walden University.
For Atherley, nursing has always been more than a career choice. Nursing is a calling rooted in compassion, faith, and a desire to help people return to a path of wholeness during some of life's most difficult moments.
Her introduction to AdventHealth University Denver happened unexpectedly. While finishing her prerequisites at the Community College of Aurora, she had put off applying to any nursing schools.
“I was a nervous wreck,” she said. “I hadn’t applied anywhere.”
One day while walking through the lobby of her campus, she noticed several universities set up at recruitment tables. One of them was AdventHealth University. As a lifelong Seventh-day Adventist, the name stood out — especially after she mentioned it to her father, who immediately encouraged her to learn more.
Atherley initially hesitated, wondering if a college workload made sense at the time. But the AHU representatives at the table welcomed her with warmth and honesty that made a lasting impression.
“I questioned whether I was capable to returning to higher education while balancing work, raising a young child, being a wife, and managing the many responsibilities of life,” she said. “Something inside me knew I needed to take that first step. They were super inviting and kind. They told me if I came to the open house they would waive the application fee. As a college student, that was enough for me to go check it out. Looking back, that moment of uncertainty became one of the most life-changing decisions I have ever made.”
That choice would ultimately shape the next chapter of her life. During her time at AdventHealth University, Atherley said what stood out most was the way faculty and staff cared about students beyond academics.
“My educators really wanted to see me thrive,” she said. “They cared about my whole life, not just the school part of it.”
That support became especially meaningful when Atherley and her family contracted COVID-19 while she was in the nursing program. Balancing illness, quarantine and caring for her young child could have easily derailed her progress.
Instead, her professors and the university community stepped in with encouragement and practical support.
“They checked on me, they sent food, and they even helped with a small stipend,” Atherley said. “It showed me they cared about more than just my grades.”
The experience strengthened her resolve to finish what she had started. While at AHU, Atherley was also recognized with a Mission Award for demonstrating the values that guide AdventHealth University’s mission of living the healing values of Christ.
“Beginning her journey as a second-career student, Charlene embraced every challenge with determination and a commitment to service,” explained Sarah Romero, MSN-Ed, RN, Assistant Dean of Nursing at AdventHealth University Denver. “During her time in the nursing program, she quickly emerged as a leader within her cohort and became the first recipient of the AHU Mission Award, recognizing her consistent demonstration of the university’s mission both on campus and in the clinical setting. It has been a privilege to first know Charlene as a student and now to call her a colleague.”
In Houston, Atherley started in a position in the psychiatric hospital of St. Joseph Medical Center. The facility included several units — from detox and acute psychiatric care to step-down services — allowing her to develop a broad range of clinical skills early in her career. She then moved on to her present work at Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital and United Health Services. For United, she works for its Behavioral Health Connections subsidiary, offering emergency psychiatric assessment in emergency rooms, hospital unites and homes in communities throughout the Houston area.
Her passion for mental health was clear long before she graduated.
“When I took my psych course in nursing school, I loved it,” she said. “I knew that was my place.”
Working in both psychiatric and medical settings has given Atherley a unique perspective on patient care. Today, Atherley is preparing to take her certification exam to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, further expanding her impact on the lives of those she serves. She has seen firsthand how often mental health and physical health intersect and how easily mental health needs can go unnoticed in busy clinical environments.
“A lot of times patients come in for a physical issue, but there’s something deeper going on,” she said.
Taking that time has made a difference in ways she never expected. Atherley recently received a DAISY Award – one of several in her career - after a patient nominated her for the honor. In his letter to Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital, the patient described living with a chronic illness that had left him feeling hopeless. During one of his hospital stays, Atherley sat with him and listened.
He later wrote that her willingness to stop and truly hear him helped him feel seen — not just as a patient, but as a person.
“When I read the letter, I cried,” Atherley said. “I didn’t even remember the interaction at first, but it reminded me that compassion matters more than we realize.”
Jillyan McKinney, MBA, CEO of AdventHealth Florida’s Florida Specialty Network, observed Atherley during her clinical rotations earlier in her career.
“I was the CEO at Littleton Hospital during her clinical rotations, which allowed me to see her in action and experience the impact she had on patients and team members,” McKinney said. “Even in the intensity of a medical environment, she always saw the patient behind the diagnosis and often recognized concerns others might miss.”
McKinney said Atherley’s passion for mental health care was evident early on.
“As the daughter of a psychiatrist, that resonated with me personally and aligned with our mission to help people feel whole,” McKinney said. “Her compassion and passion will allow her to make a tremendous impact as a clinician in mental health.”
For Atherley, faith remains central to the work she does every day. She often begins her shift with a quiet prayer, asking for opportunities to make a difference.
“Sometimes it’s just listening,” she said. “Sometimes it’s encouraging someone who feels overwhelmed. But there’s always an opportunity to help.”
She also remains deeply grateful for the role AdventHealth University played in her journey.
“The support I received there made such a difference,” Atherley said. “They cared about me as a person, not just a student. That encouragement helped me push forward and become the nurse I always wanted to be.”