Nursing was never a last-minute decision for Cody Adams.

“It was always in my blood,” he said.

Surrounded by nurses in his family, he grew up seeing the profession not just as a job, but as a meaningful way to serve others.

“Becoming a nurse is like the childhood dream come true,” he said.

Over time, that early sense of direction grew into something even bigger: a career that has taken him from bedside care to leadership, and now into PennWest’s Doctor of Nursing Practice journey.

Cody first realized just how close his goal was during his undergraduate leadership rotations at Mon General. After years of study, the idea of sitting for his boards and officially becoming a nurse suddenly felt real.

“It kind of hit me all at once when I was about to graduate,” he said. “The kid who grew up wanting to be a nurse is now graduating with his bachelor’s, but also with his master’s.”

That feeling of momentum has stayed with him. Since then, he has continued building on his education, earning a Master of Science in Nursing through then-California University of Pennsylvania, and continuing to grow with PennWest as the institution evolved.

Today, Cody serves as an assistant nurse manager at Veterans Affairs. His focus is leadership, but not leadership in the abstract. He is interested in the kind of leadership that helps other nurses grow.

“I love to teach nurses and help out my colleagues,” he said. “That’s why I want to continue to pursue that leadership route, because in the end, I would love to create more nurse leaders. We are in a position to shape the nursing field.”

A defining moment in his journey came when a preceptor told him, “A successful nurse leader is when you’re able to create another nurse leader.” That idea stuck with him and still shapes how he thinks about the future.

That future is about more than management titles for Cody.

“We are in a position where we can help guide the practice, guide policy, guide protocols,” he said.

The future is also about mentorship. He speaks openly about the importance of asking questions, finding guidance, and learning from people who have walked the path before you.

“I always try to look for someone who can give me guidance in my career,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if I didn’t have guidance from people who set me on the right path.”

That blend of humility, ambition and service shapes the kind of nurse leader Cody is becoming. His advice to future nurses is simple but powerful: Enjoy the journey, stay open to learning, and do not underestimate where nursing can take you.

In his experience, the profession is both versatile and deeply fulfilling. At PennWest, he found a place to strengthen that foundation and to prepare for the kind of leadership that builds up others along the way.