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“How are you going to support your baby?” That question, asked just one day after giving birth at 18 years old, lit the spark that turned Karla Gochenour into a nurse, a leader, and a role model.

“I became a nurse because I wanted to be someone who listens deeply, advocates fiercely, and changes lives through presence,” she said.

Karla had always been a C student, but she quickly learned that it wasn’t because she lacked ability, but because she hadn’t found meaning. Until now. The day she discovered nursing, the fog, as she described it, lifted.

She went from having a GED to working towards her DNP.

“I fought for every degree, every opportunity, every ounce of respect in rooms I wasn’t expected to enter, let alone lead,” she said. “Today, my son—now 24—is my greatest supporter…he remains my 'why.’”

Her son witnessed every setback and sacrifice that ultimately led to her success. She refused to give up on herself because she knew he was watching, and she needed to prove to him that every “no” can become fuel for something greater.

Karla’s purpose lies in nursing, but that is not her only major accomplishment. Outside of scrubs, Karla embraced another challenge—pageantry. In 2023, she was crowned Mrs. USA Globe. Now, she uses her title and visibility to advocate for women’s health, mental health, and access to ethical hormone care. She even wrote a book, Breaking Labels, Defying Limits: The Journey of a Single Teenage Mother to Mrs. USA.

Her hard work continues to pay off, and she recently accepted the opportunity to become a Sigma nurse. She sees her membership not just as recognition, but as a platform to continue leading with heart.

“I’m proud to be part of a community shaping what nursing can become,” she said. “It’s not just about credentials—it’s about character. It means standing in your purpose, uplifting others, and committing to lifelong leadership.”

While she finishes her DNP, Karla serves her community as the founder and lead nurse practitioner at Pineland Aesthetic Medicine, a concierge medical practice focused on hormone optimization and medical weight loss. She hopes to expand her practice, mentoring future clinicians, shaping ethical aesthetic and hormone medicine, and using her story to ignite hope in those who have been overlooked or underestimated.

Karla’s story may be unconventional, but it is proof that showing up and persevering matters. And that’s what she wants aspiring nurses to take with them throughout their journey.

“Your path won’t look like anyone else’s—and that’s your power. Let your ‘why’ anchor you when the work gets hard. Keep learning. Keep rising. You will become someone you’re proud of.”

Karla Gochenour, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is a member of the Phi Pi Chapter of Sigma. She was invited to join in 2025 and was officially inducted virtually on 16 August. Her DNP is in progress through Chamberlain University.