Christopher Otto

Nursing

A Call to Nursing

Christopher Otto knew that working in the nursing field was his calling when he took a job as a patient escort at Wilmington Hospital during his senior year of high school. This position made him fall in love with the nurses and the way they interacted with their patients.

Delaware Tech was Otto's first choice in obtaining his nursing degree, because he required the flexibility that the College could offer a working individual. Otto's time at the College left him with a lasting impression of its mental health education and the psychiatric nursing rotation.

Today, Otto serves as the executive director for the Delaware Nurses Association, as well as practicing clinically at ChristianaCare in the neurological ICU. He also spends his time as an elected member of the American Nurses Association's leadership counsel executive committee.

Otto is a self-described lifelong learner and is currently back in school working on his MBA. His ultimate goal is to get a PHD in nursing.

Professionally, Otto would prefer to keep himself busy with various aspects of the nursing profession. In the future, he can see himself teaching or getting involved in research.

Most importantly, he doesn't see himself ever truly leaving clinicals. "I don't think I ever want to give that up, even if it's just for one day a week," Otto said. "I still want to be at the bedside taking care of patients."

When it comes to giving advice to the next generation of nursing students, Otto stresses that staying engaged and committed is challenging, but worth it in the end.

"The outcome of getting your education from Delaware Tech is that you're widely recognized across the state as exceptional nurses when you come out of the program because of the skill and critical thinking that is developed," Otto said.

Lastly, Otto recommends nursing students to "make friendships, connections, and support one another."