There is a certain bravery to RVNA home health nurse Linda Eglit, RN, that goes hand-in-hand with her kindness and optimism.
Who makes a wholesale career change at age 40? Linda Eglit does.
Who subsequently moves east to Connecticut and loves it? Linda Eglit does.
Who is going downhill skiing for the first time this coming winter? Linda Eglit will.
Who is lucky to know Linda Eglit? RVNA is.
Read on and meet the talented, the positive...Linda Eglit.
Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Danbury almost 2 years ago.
How long have you been at RVNA?
It will be 2 years this December.
What brought you here?
My family lives here in Ridgefield and I wanted to be closer to them.
When did you decide you wanted to be a nurse?
My father became terminally ill and I was his caregiver for approximately 4 months until he passed away. During this time, I wanted to understand ” the why” behind his illness. The nurses who cared for my dad were amazing at helping me and my brother get through this difficult time and that’s when I caught ” the bug” of healthcare. I decided to return back to school at the age of 40 and graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science degree. Just prior to moving to Connecticut, I was living in Florida and working at Florida Hospital Orlando on the oncology-medical surgery unit.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Making a difference in a person’s life and improving their quality of life is rewarding. Whether it's helping them recuperate from surgery, or teaching the person and the family about their condition, or sometimes it’s to be a great listener. It’s an honor to be a nurse and help people get through a trying time in their life.
I love sweets, so I would have to say a pastry chef.
What do you love to do when you’re not working?
I love spending time with my niece and nephew. They are trying to get me to go skiing this winter for the first time. They are the joys of my life. And treating myself to a spa treatment.
What is your hidden talent?
When I’m feeling inspired, I write poetry.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Pay off my student loans and then I would take care of my family. Purchase a luxurious yacht and travel around the world. Italy is at the top of my bucket list! And then I would donate to my favorite charity, the American Cancer Society.
Do you have a favorite RVNA moment or story?
Being a nurse, it’s hard to pick just one moment as there are so many. One particular moment that comes to mind, I had cared for this man for over a year. One day out of the blue, he said he wanted me to call him by a different name. I went along with it and asked him, “What name would you like me to call you”? He said Irving. This put a huge smile on my face because this happened to be my Dad’s name. So as an ongoing joke for weeks, every time I saw him, I called him ‘Irv’ and we would get a chuckle from our joke.
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