Portage native Tina Vaclavik has found her passion for helping others through her work in nursing. Currently working at Methodist Hospital’s Gary location, Vaclavik has spent almost three decades in the field and absolutely loves what she does each and every day.
“I work at Gary Methodist, and I've been nursing for 27 years - 18 of that was pediatrics, and the rest has been in the neonatal ICU,” Vaclavik said.
Vaclavik knew from an early age that nursing was her calling. She decided as a child that nursing was the end goal, and from there, her mind was set. Even as time went on and she progressed through her academic career, her mind didn’t waiver, and she was determined to one day find herself working in the healthcare field.
“They asked me in first grade, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and I said, ‘I'm going to be a nurse!'” Vaclavik said.
From that moment on, Vaclavik took on any opportunity to help her reach her dream of one day becoming a nurse. Today, she has reached that goal and enjoys that she can spend her days helping all of her patients through some of their toughest and most vulnerable times to find a better tomorrow.
“I love getting to know all the patients. I really appreciate them. I enjoy taking care of them and listening to them,” Vaclavik said.
Additionally, Vaclavik shares the same passion for creating quality memories with her family as she does for her career. She has three daughters and loves spending time with them when possible. They particularly enjoy partaking in most outdoor activities.
“It just all depends on what we're doing, but we like camping and I do yoga, so just kind of outdoorsy things when we can,” Vaclavik said.
It’s also common to find Vaclavik on a motorcycle during the warmer months. She loves to ride and even grew up in a motorcycle family, who inspired her love for the hobby.
“My husband and I are avid motorcycle riders and love riding during the good season,” Vaclavik said.
She’s lived in the city for most of her life and loves everything it has to offer. She graduated from Portage High School, where she was a part of the school’s marching band and played the flute.
“I always enjoyed just hanging out with the music department and I had a musical family while I was in high school,” Vaclavik said.
Vaclavik has always been proud to call Portage her home. She loves that she’s been able to stay close to home while staying in touch with those who matter most. Portage pride is strong for Vaclavik, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I pretty much grew up in Portage. It’s so nice to sit close to home and always be around family and friends,” Vaclavik said.