She was her sister’s caregiver her whole life + now she’s a nurse at Children’s of Alabama

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While her classmates at Spain Park High School in Hoover were bouncing from one after-school activity to the next, Jada King was coming home to take care of her sister Dejá, who was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis at six months old.

Caring for Dejá for most of her life, Jada was destined for a career in helping others—which is how she landed at job in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s of Alabama.

Here’s her story.

Her sister’s caregiver

When her sister Dejá was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis as an infant, Jada quickly stepped into the caregiver role alongside their mother.

“My sister was four years older than me. She was born typical and then at six months, she got pneumococcal meningitis.

Ultimately, it left her with multiple disabilities. I had to feed her, change her and teach her how to walk.”

Jada King, PICU Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by bacteria that infect membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord.

Jada told me that the years spent tending to Dejá paved the way for a career in health care.

“She was nonverbal, and having to advocate and speak for somebody else is something a lot of people don’t think about.

I appreciate it, and it helped me with my work today.”

Jada King, PICU Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

See work opportunities at Children’s of Alabama.

Jada’s passion for nursing

Jada was in the Health Science Academy while at Spain Park. In her Junior year, Jada decided she wanted to go to college for nursing and help others—just as she had been caring for her sister most of her life.

A month before Jada started at the University of Alabama, her sister Dejá passed away.

“When my sister passed away I was like, ‘Do I really want to be a nurse? Or is it something I just want to do because I’ve been a caregiver my whole life?'”

Jada King, PICU Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

After questioning her career path, switching her major to speech pathology and then ultimately back to nursing, Jada decided to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

Landing a job at Children’s of Alabama

Jada has been a nurse on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Children’s of Alabama since October 2023. It’s thanks to UAB that she landed here.

“UAB does this internship program through Children’s called the clinical extender.

They allow you to do certain things that you wouldn’t be able to do on a normal 12-hour clinical rotation.

You get a feel of where you think you may want to work and then after that, they try to let you shadow on whatever unit you want.”

Jada King, PICU Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

Jada precepted on the PICU while she was in nursing school and was convinced it was where she needed to be.

“I knew I wanted to work with kids, and not just in the NICU. I wanted to work with all branches of pediatrics, and I’ve always wanted to come to Children’s.

I love the work dynamic and the family, and I love how they want to see nurses grow.”

Jada King, PICU Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

As a PICU nurse, Jada administers medication and treatments to children and provides a friendly face to all patients and their families.

Find your “why”

When I sat down with Jada, her passion for this career was evident in every word she spoke.

Her advice for someone seeking a career in nursing? Find your “why.”

“On the hard days, you have to remember why you chose to be a nurse. While I am taking care of somebody else, I feel like I’m helping myself as well.”

Jada King, PICU Nurse, Children’s of Alabama

Join the work family that Jada loves. Check out career opportunities at Children’s of Alabama.

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