Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Pierce.
Hi Antoinette, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello everyone, my name is Antoinette Pierce. I’m the owner of Serenity Living & Company and I’m going to tell you how it all started. My journey was not easy but I have never been one to give up. When I decided to become a Registered Nurse at the age of 26, I was working two jobs just to pay my bills. I needed a change and I knew I had my work cut out for me. I had a really great support system to help me with my children so that I could attend school. God’s grace got me through. It really does take a village. I started my nursing career as an LPN, then progressed to an RN. I have been a nurse for over 9 years now and love helping others to be successful. The love I have for nursing and caring for others made me realize I could do more for my community. I started my first business, “Serenity Living & Company” which focuses on providing housing for the homeless. We offer safe, secure, and reliable housing to improve the quality of life for displaced members of the community.
My experience and success in nursing is what lead me to my second business, “The Nurse Navigator” which focuses on providing nurses with the support they need to reach their full potential while living out their dreams. When I became a nurse, there were a lot of things that I had to figure out because I did not have a mentor to guide me or show me the way. My company is a roadmap for nurses so that they do not have to guess. I will lead them through.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. There have been many obstacles that I had to overcome. I was in nursing school when I became pregnant with my second son. I was really sick and could not keep anything down during my first trimester. I was in and out of the ER constantly getting fluids to stay hydrated. This caused me to fail two classes, so I was kicked out of my RN program. I was two semesters from graduation when I failed. I was unable to work because I was so sick so I hit rock bottom. I literally had to rebuild my life. After having my son, I went back to my school and spoke with administration to see if anything could be done since I was so close to graduation. They allowed me to transfer my nursing credits into the LPN program. Luckily, that put me at the end of the LPN program and I graduated after two semesters. I worked as an LPN for a year before I decided to pursue RN school again. I started attending ITT Tech for nursing and everything was going well until they announced the school was closing. ITT Tech shut down 3 months before I was scheduled to graduate. My classmates and I were devastated and had to find another school to attend. The school we found was in Sebring, FL which was about an hour and a half drive one way. I had to make that drive 2-3 times a week. I had so many reasons to quit, so many opportunities to just give up but I persevered, at this point, nothing was getting in the way of graduation. Going through this journey made me stronger and helped me to become the woman I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work full-time as an Oncology Registered Nurse at a local hospital here in Orlando. I also have two businesses that I run and am currently in grad school for my Master’s degree in nursing at UCF. I am very proud of both my businesses because I have been working on them for a long time. I love being able to help members of the community. I have always known that it is my calling to help and be of service to others. What sets me apart from others is the dedication that I have to helping people thrive. I am most proud of my accomplishments. I persevered and I am proof that the sky is the limit.
Most of my nursing career I have worked with hospice patients, I have also managed a hospice inpatient unit for a local hospice here in Orlando. I have seen a lot of patients not have any family by their side when they are dying. Especially, the homeless. Working with the homeless population inspired me to provide private housing for the them. Everyone deserves to have a place they can call home and have people that care about their mental and physical well-being. Serenity Living & Company is committed to being a Safe, Exceptional, Resilient, Efficient, Nurturing, Environment (S.E.R.E.N.E) for displaced members of the community. We meet you where you are in life and help you to push forward in a positive manner.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I would tell anyone to write down their goals on paper. Make sure your business is something you are passionate about. Stay employed while starting your business, that way you have guaranteed income. Do your research and don’t be afraid to consult with someone in the same field that can guide and mentor you through your journey. Don’t be afraid to pay for classes to learn more about your craft, this is called investing in yourself. Persevere, don’t give up on yourself under any circumstances. People will push their insecurities onto you and make you feel like you cannot accomplish your goals and dreams. I am here to tell you that you can!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://serenitylivingandcompany.com
- Instagram: @serenitylivingandcompany.com and @the_nursenavigator
Image Credits
Maria Albury
