“I’m from a very, very rural area in Arkansas, and so most of the professional women I came in contact with as a little girl were teachers, so I wanted to be a teacher,” Amy Mersiovsky recalls. But life had other plans. At the tender age of 12, Mersiovsky was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that led to a major surgery and, ultimately, a new career aspiration.
“I spent many months back and forth to hospitals, treatments, etc., and I really started to learn about nursing and what all the nurses did. And that’s how I decided that I wanted to be a nurse,” she explains.
The path was not easy. As a first-generation college student, Mersiovsky faced numerous challenges, but her determination never waved.
“It was not always the easiest path, but I’ve not regretted being a nurse one day, and I’m very fortunate that I get to have a combination of both dream careers, teaching and nursing, at the same time,” she says.
Mersiovsky’s journey into healthcare was deeply personal.
“My grandmother had scoliosis, so she was always very concerned that we girls would have scoliosis,” she shares.
When Mersiovsky’s diagnoses came during a growth spurt, it led to a significant surgery in which her spine was straightened with the help of rods and wires.
“I grew 2.25 inches from having the surgery when my spine was straightened up,” she reflects.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Mersiovsky’s resilience shone through even at her young age, saying she was back on her feet 3 to 4 days after the surgery.
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Arkansas Tech University, Mersiovsky’s career began as a staff nurse, specializing in pediatric nursing. Her work took her across central Arkansas and eventually Central Texas, where she managed neonatal intensive care units and stroke units. But her calling toward education never faded. A unique opportunity arose when she was approached to assist a clinical instructor from Tarlton State University.
“That was a great opportunity for me, and it reaffirmed that I wanted to go into nursing education,” Mersiovsky explains, leading her to earn a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Mersiovsky didn’t stop there. She furthered her academic journey by obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Stanford University.
“I was able to come over to A&M–Central Texas in 2020, which was an amazing opportunity given everything that was going on in 2020,” she reflects.
Today, as the Chair and Director of the Department of Nursing at A&M–Central Texas, Dr. Mersiovsky oversees a fully online program tailored for working nurses pursuing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
“Nursing is a little different, particularly nursing here at A&M–Central Texas. All of my nurses have an associate’s degree, they have a nursing license, and they’re all working,” Mersiovsky explains.
She understands the unique pressure her students face and emphasizes support and flexibility.
“My goal is to make sure that my students know that we’re here to support them and that we want them to be successful.”
Beyond the classroom, Mersiovsky continues her scholarly contributions.
“I’m a reluctant scholar, so writing and doing research is something that I have to push myself to do a little bit,” she admits, regarding her latest journal articles on the behavioral and psychological impacts of social media on children to be published soon.
Moreover, Mersiovsky remains active in 4-H, a youth development program, mentoring children through the American Rabbit Breeders Association and the Texas Rabbit Breeders Association, alongside her husband. Additionally, she volunteers at the Feed My Sheep free children’s clinic, providing healthcare to underserved families in Central Texas.
“The children’s clinic is really important to me,” she emphasizes, linking her rural upbringing and pediatric nursing background to her current community efforts.
Looking to the future, Mersiovsky envisions expanding the nursing program at A&M–Central Texas with a graduate program and eventually a College of Health Sciences to match the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the region, pointing out that health science is the largest employer in Central Texas.
As she prepares her tenure packet, with the aspiration of becoming a tenured full professor, Mersiovsky reflects on her journey and the impact she hopes to leave behind.
“I hope people can say that I left the world a better place than I found it in and that I truly did help people.”