TEAM MEMBER:

JOSEPH CANTU, RN, Children’s Medical Center Plano

SUPERPOWER:

Compassion and the ability to pivot in real-time based on patient and family needs

He called himself the popsicle specialist.

A volunteer in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit at Children’s Health℠, Joseph toted icy purple and orange pops to kids after they woke up from surgery.

The sweet treat was to make sure they were able to swallow after being under anesthesia.

But Joseph didn’t know that at the time.

He was a businessman working at a tech company who wanted to donate some of his time to help kids.

He hadn’t yet dreamed of going back to school to become a nurse and pursuing a major career change.

“I just thought, ‘I love this job,’” Joseph said, of volunteering at the hospital. “And then I started to get really interested in nursing. I’ve always had that loving nature for helping others and the change felt right.”

Now, he’s a floater nurse at Children’s Medical Center Plano — Joseph loves working with patients and their families and helping distract children from the pain of their illness and boredom in a hospital room.

In 2020, he was pre-assigned to treat patients who tested positive or presumptive positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

“I felt prepared and trained by the hospital for this,” Joseph said. “As nurses, this is what we signed up for, and I was ready and proud to be part of the team.”

For the last several years, he has led his team in fundraising efforts for Children’s Health. It’s important to him to support the patients that he sees fight for their lives every day.

“I love this place, and I really believe in what we do,” Joseph said. “Nursing has completely changed my life. It’s honestly made me a better man.”