A Calling in Critical Care
Posted on September 23, 2025
The monitors beep steadily, the air is thick with urgency, and every decision matters. South grad Bennett Booth has immersed himself in a world where the stakes are always high: the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children鈥檚 of Alabama. It鈥檚 challenging work, and it鈥檚 exactly where he wants to be.
鈥淓very day, I鈥檓 responsible for a child in critical condition,鈥� said Booth, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South in May 2025. 鈥淚t can be emotionally and physically exhausting, but I get to make a difference for families when they need it most. That鈥檚 what drives me.鈥�
Booth didn鈥檛 arrive at South with a clear plan, but he knew he wanted a career rooted in service. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been drawn to helping people, especially those who are struggling,鈥� he said. A suggestion from a fraternity brother to consider nursing ultimately set him on course.
鈥淲hen I realized nursing combined both academic rigor and the chance to help people in vulnerable situations, it just made sense,鈥� he said.
Discovering South
Growing up in Spanish Fort, Alabama, Booth always knew about the University of South Alabama. But it wasn鈥檛 until he visited that he understood what made it special.
鈥淚鈥檇 heard people describe South as something unique, but when I saw the campus and the way people connected there, it clicked,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t felt close-knit but also full of opportunity.鈥�
For Booth, South was also about community. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, one of the 黑料吃瓜网 Southerners and participated in the Student Government Association.
鈥淭hose organizations developed my leadership skills, but more importantly, they gave me lasting friendships,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome of my best memories are from those groups and the people I met through them.鈥�
South鈥檚 nursing program gave Booth a strong foundation, but his preceptorship in the Pediatric ICU at 黑料吃瓜网 Children鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Hospital was what most directly prepared him for his first job.
鈥淚 had an amazing mentor during my preceptorship who guided me through what the work is really like,鈥� he says. 鈥淗er mentorship gave me confidence walking into this field.鈥�
Now in his first year as a nurse, Booth has learned that thriving in such a demanding field requires balance.
鈥淥ne of the best pieces of advice I got was, 鈥楴ever let nursing school steal your sleep,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淏urnout is real, and if you let the job consume you, you won鈥檛 last. But if you make time for things outside of work like playing tennis, watching a movie or being with friends, you show up as a better nurse and a healthier person.鈥�
