Lisa Creason

Lisa Creason was once denied a state license to practice as a registered nurse in Illinois, due to a crime she committed as a teenager and a state law passed in 2011. Thanks to her story, tireless advocacy and policy change, Lisa’s dream of becoming a registered nurse came true. She is now on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I change in the garage.

“I bag my clothes in the garage, leave my shoes out, spray them, bag them, leave them out for the next day. Then I take my clothes immediately in to get washed.

“It’s a different type of life. Everybody’s on eggshells.

“Nurses are scared because we’ve got to come back home to our kids. We had my son stop his job because we don’t need multiple risks coming in and out of the house.

“[My son and I] both had birthdays at the house. We put up balloons. [Videocalling] is such a good tool right now. That’s the only way you’ll see anyone’s face. I had to have my boys go over and teach my mom how to use it.

“You definitely have to be a compassionate individual to be able to fully understand the benefit of this field, especially in a time like now. You have to have compassion.

“You’re not doing it for the paycheck or stability. You’re doing it to try to keep everybody safe. That’s the part you play.”

Lisa Creason
Decatur, Illinois

Photo credit: Lamontie Williams