Next up on our "Where Are They Now?" series is Kirsten DiPippo ('12). A four-year starter as a defender for Cal Lutheran women's soccer, Kirsten anchored a defensive backline that won three SCIAC titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances during her career. We got the chance to check up on Kirsten with a Q&A to see how she's made an impact in the fight against COVID-19.
What years did you attend Cal Lutheran and what made you want to attend the university?
I attended Cal Lutheran from 2009-2012. I grew up in Thousand Oaks and knew about the University. I also went to Westlake High school and played soccer from Frank there. Getting the chance to play for Frank again was one of the main reasons I decided to transfer to Cal Lutheran.
What is your current job, and how did Cal Lutheran prepare you for the position?
I am a Registered Nurse at Providence St John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. While CLU doesn't have a nursing program, I feel that my prior degree (Liberal Studies) and being an athlete helped shape me to be a good communicator, and team player.
How was your experience with the soccer team?
Overall, I had a great experience with the soccer team. Some of the best friends I have today are because of playing soccer. Frank [Marino] is a great coach and promoted a positive team atmosphere. Being a part of a team that went undefeated in league play to several NCAA Tournament appearances are some of the best memories I have from my college experience.
How did being a student-athlete prepare you for your professional career?
Being a student athlete forces you to have good time management skills, learning how to prioritize tasks, being flexible and adaptable. I learned how to balance class, homework, practice, and a social life in college definitely better prepared me for my professional career. In nursing that is a huge part of the job-- Most shifts I have four to five patients that all require different things at almost the same time. I have 12 hours to get all of my tasks done, but there are times when things can change so quickly, a patient can become unstable and throw your entire plan for the day off. I just have to be able to roll with what the day throws at you, and being a student-athlete prepared me well for my job as a nurse.
What is your favorite part about the job? Describe a typical day on the job.
It is hard to pick just one thing to be my favorite. Obviously, providing quality care to people at their most vulnerable times is a big one. Also, with the COVID pandemic, being a part of a team that helps treat and care for the sickest patients suffering from COVID is rewarding. I float throughout the hospital so I do not what my day is going to be like until I get to work. But my shift starts at 7 a.m. and all the nurses get report and updates on their patients they have for the day, then from 8-10 we are passing out morning medication. Once you get through that part of your morning, you can kind of get of feeling for what the day is going to be like.
Did you know you always wanted to enter this position, or when did you know what you wanted to do?
I did not always know that nursing was going to be my career choice. I knew that I enjoyed helping others but was not sure which career path I was going to take. I moved to Washington D.C. and interned on Capitol Hill, and had some other jobs that I enjoyed but was not fulfilled by. Once I moved home in 2015 is when I made a five-year plan to become a nurse. I needed work experience in the medical field and had to complete prerequisite prior to applying. In 2018, I was accepted to Mount Saint Mary's accelerated BSN program, I then graduated in May 2019 and passed my boards later that summer. I have been an RN for almost one year as I was hired in September of 2019.
What are your long-term plans for the future?
As of right now, I am unsure of which direction I would like to go. Never did I think my first year with a new nursing career would there be a pandemic, but it has been a learning experience that will make me a better nurse in the long run. I know I want to get a few more years of bedside nursing, and would love to be trained to become and ICU nurse, then maybe eventually go back and get my Master's degree.
Be on the lookout for more alumni stories from our Kingsmen and Regals in the coming weeks.
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Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director
