Lawyer turns to nursing

Jonathan Trotter, JD, RN, CEN, said he did not see nursing on his radar when he started at Oakbrook College of Law in Fresno, Calif.

Trotter, a Kansas City native, said when he enrolled in Oakbrook’s distance learning juris doctorate program he planned to go into trial law.

But during law school, a clerkship at a Missouri firm that dealt with medical law changed Trotter’s plans.

“I sort of fell in love with the medical side of it,” Trotter said.

During his time as a clerk, Trotter said, he realized he lacked insight into the medical records and cases that a nurse would have.

“Attorneys don’t inherently know the terminology or the protocol,” Trotter said.

Trotter decided to pursue a degree in nursing after passing the State Bar of California.

Trotter completed his nursing degree at Penn Valley Community College and now works in the emergency department at Truman Medical Center.

Trotter said both professions use the same critical thinking skills.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how similar they are,” Trotter said. “I told everyone in nursing school, ‘This is just like law school.’”

Trotter joined the team at Truman Medical Center a little more than two years ago.

“I went through their six-month nurse residency program and it was just great,” Trotter said. “This has been exactly what I was hoping it would be.”

Trotter said he appreciates the learner-friendly environment Truman cultivates as a teaching hospital.

“I feel like I learn something new every day,” Trotter said. “It’s not a bad thing if you don’t know. You just have to know who to ask.”

Pam Hinrichs, RN, APCM, assistant patient care manager in Truman’s emergency department, said the hospital strives to foster an educational environment.

“There’s a continuation of learning going on all the time,” she said.

Trotter also enjoys the bond he has with his colleagues at Truman.

“There’s a camaraderie that, I think, is developed through trials,” Trotter said. “It’s a band of brothers, only not as many brothers.”

Hinrichs said Trotter fits in with the team well.

“He is an excellent nurse in our department. He has the demeanor for the emergency room nurse,” she said. “He has really good critical thinking skills.”

Trotter said he eventually plans to use his nursing skills abroad.

“Nursing is very much needed overseas,” he said.

Trotter said he and his wife, Elizabeth, hope to serve in Cambodia.

“The need for health care over there is just tremendous,” he said.

For now, Jonathan said he enjoys the time he is able to spend with his wife and their three children, 6-year-old Nathaniel, 4-year-old Isaac and 1-year-old Hannah. The Trotters are expecting another child this year.

Jonathon works two 12-hour shifts per week at Truman and serves as a part-time youth pastor at Red Bridge Church of Christ.

Jonathon said he and Elizabeth do not miss the six-figure salary he could have received as an attorney.

“We just feel like that’s not our family’s direction,” he said. “Nursing fit into our family dynamic very well….We both felt like this is what we were called to do and supposed to do.”

Jonathan still remains licensed as an attorney in California. He said he has not closed the door of law in his future and might want to pursue international law through a nonprofit organization such as International Justice Mission.

“I still love the law,” Jonathan said.

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