ACLS Instructor Highlight Olivia McNelis, RN

Meet Olivia McNelis, RN, a dedicated BLS and PEARS instructor for ACLS Academy. With a passion for lifelong learning, Olivia thrives on taking on new roles and expanding her skills. When she’s not working full-time or part-time gigs, she combines her love for music and travel by catching her favorite artists in iconic destinations across the U.S. and worldwide.

Medical Career Experience & Current Employment:  

After earning my BS in Nursing, I began my career at Franciscan Children’s Hospital, working in the Pulmonary and Medical Rehab Unit. An educator on staff at the community hospital where I worked during my senior year practicum had worked at Franciscan Children’s Hospital and pointed me in that direction, knowing my predilection for a smaller institution. At Franciscan, I care for pediatric patients aged 1 month to 23 years who have complex medical needs, including tracheostomies, ileostomies, gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes, halo traction, brain injuries, and those requiring mechanical ventilation. Part of my role also involves educating parents to manage their child's care independently, assessing their learning needs, developing nursing care plans, and providing interventions tailored to each patient’s goals. I appreciate the close-knit environment at Franciscan, which offers ample opportunities for learning and professional growth.

In addition to my full-time role at Franciscan, I work as a per diem Home Care Nurse with BAYADA Pediatrics. This allows me to support some of my Franciscan patients as they transition to home care, ensuring continuity of care and helping families adapt to home-based medical routines.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

What initially drew you to a career in nursing with a clinical focus on children? 

I’ve always had a passion for science, and a great chemistry teacher suggested I consider nursing as a major in college. That advice stuck with me. Growing up with a sister seven years younger, I naturally felt comfortable around kids and enjoyed spending time with them. While many of my friends took jobs in food service as teenagers, I was drawn to roles like babysitting, where I could work with children, something I’ve always found fun and fulfilling.

The statement “The profession of nursing is a commitment to life-long learning” is consistently heard in relation to nursing. Is it challenging to keep up to date? 

I don’t find it particularly challenging because ongoing education is inherent in nursing. When you choose nursing, you understand that continuous learning comes with the territory. At work, we receive valuable information from our internal educators, and most nurses, including myself, also engage in independent study to stay current with new developments. As for my educational goals, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in nursing, likely focusing on public health or clinical education.

Tell us more about your experience in public health working with Partners in Development Medical Clinic.  

During nursing school, I had the opportunity to fulfill my community clinical requirement by traveling to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with Partners in Development (PID) to work in their medical clinic. This was my first time traveling outside the U.S., and I was excited to be part of the experience. Founded in 1990 by James and Gale Hull from Ipswich, Massachusetts, PID is dedicated to improving education and economic opportunities in developing countries. Shelley Lynch, the founder of ACLS Academy and an AHA instructor, had worked extensively with PID and often participated in these nursing school programs. However, the year I went to Haiti, Shelley was on maternity leave, so our paths didn’t cross until several years later.

I truly valued the opportunity to work with underserved communities, as it gave me a new perspective. It was eye-opening to see the stark contrast in access to basic resources—things we often take for granted in the U.S., like oxygen, wound care supplies, and medications. This experience broadened my understanding of global healthcare disparities, helped prepare me for my nursing career, and deepened my appreciation for the resources and facilities I work with. 

Teaching Background:  

When did you start as an American Heart Association Instructor? 

While I was content with my nursing role at Franciscan Children’s, I was eager to expand professionally, particularly in education. I approached one of the hospital’s educators about becoming an AHA BLS-certified instructor to assist in training staff. With their approval, I completed my BLS instructor certification at ACLS Academy. After earning the certification, Shelley invited me to join their team as an instructor. Given my pediatric nursing background, pursuing PEARS certification also made sense. Since Franciscan Children’s isn’t AHA-affiliated to offer PEARS on-site, staff members now take PEARS certification classes at ACLS Academy, where I instruct. This partnership has been beneficial for both organizations.

What courses do you teach, and are you in training to teach at ACLS?  

BLS and PEARS. I especially enjoy teaching PEARS because it’s ideal for new hires and recent nursing graduates looking to enhance their pediatric skills. PEARS is more practical for day-to-day care in sub-acute facilities like Franciscan Children’s. At the same time, PALS is more advanced and focuses on emergency resuscitation, which happens less frequently in these settings.

Teaching at ACLS Academy with Chad and Shelley is a great experience. The environment is comfortable and seamless, and they value the expertise of their instructors, allowing us the freedom to bring our teaching styles to the classroom.

What advice would you give to aspiring nurses just starting their careers?

My most extensive advice is to understand your personality and find the specialty and environment that align with it. Nursing is a broad field with endless opportunities, and exploring what suits you best is important. Looking at my nursing school peers and colleagues, I realize I’m a bit of an outlier—I’ve enjoyed every role I’ve taken on and have found professional fulfillment in each. However, many new nurses search for the right job, role, or fit. I’ve been fortunate to find my path early on and am genuinely happy with my direction, but everyone’s journey is different. Take the time to find yours.

Life outside of work:  

I impulsively adopted two cats a year ago. It was a late evening/early morning PetFinder spur-of-the-moment decision. Gus and Betty are a brother and sister pair and act more like dogs than they do cats. I always considered myself more of a dog person as I had two of them growing up, but given my schedule – commute, full-time job, two side gigs - I didn’t think it was fitting to adopt a dog. Happily, the three of us – Gus, Betty, and myself – thoroughly enjoy each other, and things have worked out splendidly.

Favorite things outside of work? 

I immensely enjoy going to concerts and am an acknowledged Taylor Swift fan. Indeed, a significant driver behind the acquisition of my cats was that the entire litter was named after songs from Taylor Swift’s albums. Gus (full name August) and Betty were off the Folklore album. I often mix travel and music, using my favorite artist's concerts as an excuse to visit new cities and places. Within the past year, I saw country artists Old Dominion at Red Rocks in Colorado, Luke Combs in DC, and folk-pop performer Noah Kahan in London.  I also saw more seasoned artists at a musical festival in Ocean City, Maryland, featuring the Beach Boys, Blink 182, Sublime, OAR, and Dave Matthews Band, to name a few.

Sports fanatic or yawn, sports-indifferent? 

I'm a big sports fan, especially of the Red Sox. I also support the Patriots, though I recognize they're in a rebuilding phase and doing their best. Beyond just Boston sports, I believe sports have a unique ability to bring people together and create a sense of unity.

Your happy place? 

My happy place is Fenway Park, with the sun and a draft beer, regardless of how good, bad, or ugly the Red Sox season is. The beach is a close second because I love the ocean!