News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Alpena Community College Director of Nursing Chanda Zbytowski works at her desk on Sept. 12.

ALPENA — A new director for one of Alpena Community College’s top programs has taken the lead. Chanda Zbytowski is the new Director of Nursing at ACC, coming to the role with nearly 25 years of experience and roots in the Alpena community.

Zbytowski earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from ACC in 2001. She continued her education at Chamberlain College of Nursing, where she earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus in Nursing Education. Currently, she is halfway through completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Chamberlain University.

Zbytowski has worked for nearly 25 years at MyMichigan Medical Center in a variety of roles. Her diverse experience spans across the Medical-Surgical Unit, Telemetry, Emergency Room, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Obstetrics, Cardiac Rehab, and the Progressive Care Unit (PCU). Her clinical expertise and leadership naturally led her into nursing education, where she excelled as a nurse educator for both the Medical-Surgical and PCU floors. In that role, Zbytowski played a key part in training and mentoring staff, teaching Telemetry and Patient Care Technician (PCT) classes, and ensuring high standards of patient care through continuing education. Most recently, Zbytowski stepped into the nursing supervisor role on the PCU floor.

“It took me a long time to decide what I wanted to do, but I had kids and wanted them to be proud of me,” she said. “I wanted them to be proud of a mom that could actually have a career and do something good and stay in the community.”

She added that she grew up in Alpena.

As the Director of Nursing, Zbytowski’s duties include maintaining relationships with community partners, submitting reports to the Michigan Board of Nursing, and making sure the program meets accreditation standards.

Zbytowski started the position on Aug. 18.

“I’m learning,” Zbytowski said. “I don’t even know everything I have to do yet.”

Once she has learned the ropes, Zbytowski would like to work on increasing the number of students in the program, on both the Alpena and Oscoda campuses. She hopes to fill the program to its maximum capacity.

“That would be perfect … because the nursing shortage is — they’re short all over,” Zbytowski said. “We need to produce these professional people.”

She also wants to continue to support the faculty.

“The people that are here are doing an amazing job,” Zbytowski said. “They’re all absolutely great. They’re welcoming me with open arms.”

What makes Zbytowski most passionate about her career as a nurse is getting to know her patients.

“When they come in and, you know, tell you their life story … it hits home,” she said. “And they thank you, and they’ll give you a hug at the end of the day … they’re just so thankful that you were there for them.”

Coming home at the end of the day knowing that she was able to take care of one person makes the job worth it, Zbytowski said. She still sees former patients around the community, and sometimes they will approach her and give her a hug or ask how she’s doing.

Zbytowski wants to help cultivate the passion that she has for nursing in the lives of ACC nursing students. She hopes for them to become compassionate and caring people as well as good nurses.

“It’s a wonderful career,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done it for 25 years if I didn’t love it.”

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.