Katie Costello: Finding Purpose, Resilience, and Joy in Nursing

How my nursing journey began

I began my nursing journey in 2018, the same year my uncle passed away. He was my best friend and one of the biggest inspirations in my life, and it was his encouragement that led me towards nursing. At the time, I wasn’t completely sure it was for me, but from the moment I started, I knew I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.

College, placements, and early mornings

College and placements came naturally enough, though the hours were long and demanding. I travelled to Dublin three days a week for placement and five days a week for college, catching the train and starting my days at 5am.

Some of my strongest memories are from those early mornings — my beautiful mam sitting at the kitchen table with me, making sure I had something to eat before heading out the door, and my dad supporting me every step of the way. Those quiet moments meant more than they probably know.

Back then, they helped me get through the long days; now, working locally, I get to share lifts to work with my dad, which feels like a full-circle moment I never take for granted.

Starting out in Emergency Department nursing

I graduated in 2022 and started my career in the ED at a local hospital, where I learned an incredible amount in a very short space of time.

Being a newly qualified nurse in such a fast-paced, unpredictable environment was daunting, but it pushed me to grow quickly. I was lucky to have amazing support from the hospital, which allowed me to continue my education and complete my postgraduate studies and MSc in Emergency Care, finishing in 2025.

Finding balance in the organised chaos

Over time, I became more comfortable with the busyness and organised chaos of ED life. I also started sharing my day-to-day nursing life on TikTok — partly to make sense of it all and partly because it makes everything feel a little lighter (almost like living in a simulation, in the best way 😅).

Posting and sharing my days gives me a sense of achievement, especially knowing how exhausting it can feel after a long shift. If someone can come home, switch off, and relax by watching a real, honest glimpse of nursing life, then I feel like that’s a win for everyone.

Why what we wear matters

As a student nurse, I remember how uncomfortable my uniform could be — stiff, unflattering, and definitely not designed with long shifts in mind.

Spending hours on your feet in something that didn’t feel good made already tough days even harder. Now, being able to wear scrubs that are both comfortable and stylish genuinely makes a difference, and I’m so grateful to have that with Happy Threads.

Feeling good in what you’re wearing might seem small, but on long shifts, it really matters.

What’s next

As for what’s next, I don’t have it all mapped out and I think that’s okay. I’d love to work towards becoming an ANP someday, but I also know I may need to step into a new role first to gain more experience and broaden my skills.

For now, I’m learning, growing, and staying open to wherever nursing takes me next.

Follow along

If you want to follow along with my real and relatable nursing days, you can find me on TikTok @ktcostell0.