Introducing Nurse Eric Cassell, HealthFirst Trainer
Why did you become a nurse?
During eight rewarding years in the behavioral health field, I gained an appreciation for supporting people through their emotional and psychological challenges. When I started to look for a new career, I knew I wanted to work in a field that would allow me to build on that appreciation. As I learned more about nursing, its vast scope, amazing lateral and upward mobility, and dynamic nature, I was inspired to go back to school to become a nurse.
Where has your career taken you so far?
My nursing career started in the Southwestern desert of the United States, between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. There, I worked in the ER, where I learned to manage challenging issues, from rattlesnake bites to gunshot wounds.
Next, I worked on a post-surgical floor at a trauma hospital situated in northern Arizona, next to the Navajo Reservation, the largest reservation in the US.
From there, I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, an hour from Yellowstone National Park, working for a hospital on the medical/surgical unit and the urgent care. At the same hospital, I transitioned to the wake-up room, where a patient of mine underwent surgery after being attacked by a grizzly bear. He lived to tell the story, and of course, as his wake-up room nurse, I got to hear the wild details and how he escaped.
My family and I moved to the Pays de Gex in 2025 to be closer to my French family, who live in the Haute Savoie, where my mom was born and raised.
What do you do when you are not working?
When I’m not working, I often go mountain biking, skiing, camping, and hiking with friends and family. You might find me making a mess in the kitchen, because the creative part of cooking is so much fun. Sometimes in my downtime, I’ll play speed chess online, trying to win in vain. This summer, I’ll spend a lot of time in the garden with our two cats, and at the beach.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Is one really enough? My daughter and I will sometimes buy four different blue cheeses and have a blue cheese tasting night. Also, about twice a year, when the occasion happens that my wife and daughter are gone for a couple days, I’ll do a stay-at-home movie festival with a well-researched movie list, usually sci-fi.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Buy a lot of bitcoin right when it comes out. Seriously though, I’d advise that I invest more time in relationships with friends and family, with a heavy focus on my mom, who passed early.
