At Encompass Health, we know that not everyone starts their career in healthcare. For many, the path to patient care begins later in life, after building skills and experiences in other fields. We believe those experiences matter and bring value to our hospitals, our teams, and most importantly our patients. A career in inpatient rehabilitation offers the chance to apply what you already know, while also giving you the opportunity to grow in new ways.

For employees who make this transition, the common theme is that their previous careers helped prepare them for healthcare in unexpected ways. Skills like communication, problem-solving, leadership, and empathy often translate seamlessly into patient care. At Encompass Health, we provide the training and support to help employees build on those strengths while developing new skills that allow them to thrive in their roles.

One employee who has lived this journey is Kelly Davis, Director of Nursing Practices and Informatics. Before moving into healthcare, Kelly built her career in Human Resources at Publix Supermarkets in Jacksonville, Florida. While it may seem like a leap from HR to nursing, the skills she developed—compassion, communication and adaptability—proved to be invaluable as she began caring for patients.

For Kelly, the decision to transition into healthcare was deeply personal. At just 19 years old, she lost her mother to breast cancer. During her mom’s yearlong battle, Kelly was struck by the compassion and dedication of the nurses who cared for her. “I promised my mom I would give back on her behalf,” Kelly shared, “and proceeded to enroll in nursing courses and become a nurse.”

That promise set her on a path that has led to an incredibly rewarding career. After years in acute care, Kelly eventually joined Encompass Health when she relocated to South Carolina. The move into inpatient rehabilitation care was a steep learning curve, but she credits the support, mentorship, and collaboration at Encompass Health with helping her succeed. 

“I learned from each hospital discipline to enhance my role as CNO,” she said. “Encompass has been a tremendous support to me over the years.”

Now serving as Director of Nursing Practice and Informatics, Kelly reflects on the parts of her career that mean the most. 

“The most rewarding part of my career is seeing our patients receive the best care and make functional and medical gains to ultimately return home,” she explained. Coming from an intensive care background, Kelly always wondered what happened to patients once they left her unit. “Here, I get to see that progress and be part of their recovery journey.”

Stories like Kelly’s remind us that making a career change can feel overwhelming, but at Encompass Health, you are never doing it alone. Our hospitals provide mentorship, hands-on training and a supportive team environment that helps employees feel confident as they step into their new roles.

If you are considering a new chapter in your career, Encompass Health is a place where your past experience is valued and your future potential is limitless. No matter where you come from, there is a place here for you to grow and have a career that is close to home and heart!