Excellence-Driven Professional: Sunny Kane '14

Alumna Sunny Kane '14 has taken an inspiring journey since her time at Assets. With a background in caregiving and a passion for helping others, Sunny now dedicates her days to caring for critically ill patients who may have had a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological disorders as a registered nurse at Straub Benioff Medical Center in the Neuro Progressive Care Unit in Honolulu.

When did you attend Assets School?
6th grade in 2011 and 7th grade in 2012

After Assets, what schools did you attend?
I attended Punahou School, the University of San Francisco, the University of Portland, and Creighton University.

Since graduating from Assets School, what have you been up to?
I played Division 1 soccer at the University of San Francisco for one season, got injured, and decided to focus on my education. I transferred to the University of Portland and got my business degree. While obtaining my business degree, I worked as a caregiver for special needs children — kids with Autism and Rett syndrome. I fell in love with caring for people so after graduating with my business degree, I went back to school to get my nursing degree at Creighton University. I now work as an RN at Straub in the Neuro Progressive Care Unit and absolutely love it. 

Tell us more about your work at Straub in the Neuro Progressive Care Unit.
I work at Straub Benioff Medical Center as a registered nurse on the neuro progressive care unit. I basically keep people alive for 12 hours — monitoring their vital signs, labs, assess them every 2-4 hours. I work on a step down unit so we take care of very sick patients — patients on ventilators, and drips. We send and receive patients to the ICU (intensive care unit). My unit also is considered the stroke unit at my hospital so we are all certified in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale  (NIHSS) which is a scale used to determine if a patient is having a stroke and the severity of it. 

What interests you the most about being a registered nurse?
It’s crazy to think that as a 25 year old, I work to keep people alive. Their life is in my hands for 12 hours. I’m critically thinking for 12 hours straight to ensure that I provide the best care for my patients and keep them alive. While I experience a lot of death in my line of work a lot of positive comes from it as well. I love making my patients feel loved and more than just patients. I want them to know that I see them as a human and not a list of tasks to complete. Family is also a big factor in my line of work. Establishing relationships with my patients and family allows me to provide the care possible and make them feel comfortable knowing that I care about them as an entire person! 

Share some ways attending Assets helped you. How did Assets prepare you for your future and your career? What are some of the lessons you learned at Assets School that you still use to this day?
Assets definitely gave me confidence. It allowed me to see myself aside from the academic struggles that I endured. It gave me the confidence to accept myself for who I am in order to remind myself that I am a smart and strong individual. It also taught me to advocate for myself! 

What are some of your favorite memories of Assets School? 
I remember running laps around the playground before class to get out all the built up energy. 

What do you like to do for fun?
I love spending quality time with my loved ones. Quality time is definitely my love language. Makes me happy to see my loved ones happy. I feel like time is so precious and priceless so I take every opportunity to cherish every moment. 

What’s next for you, personally or professionally?
I’m having a baby girl in January! I’m entering my mommy era, and I am so excited.