Mason City Clinic’s Amy Eberling Entered Navy Inspiring Nursing Career

March 21, 2025

Inspired by her father, Amy joined the Navy right after high school and became a Hospital Corpsman. After returning to civilian life, she enrolled in nursing school and received a Licensed Practical Nurse qualification. Amy worked in Waterloo, Iowa on cardiac and renal floors and in the Intensive Care Unit.  Said Amy, “When my husband and I decided to start a family, the Mason City Clinic offered me the opportunity to spend more time with my family. With my background and experience, the Heart Center seemed like a good fit.”

Nursing career developed through many different roles at the Clinic

Amy has been at the Heart Center long enough to have worked every position from rooming patients to flying with the physicians to outreach clinics.  Said Amy, “I have worked in triage, scheduling procedures, and for the last 10 years have been the cardiac device nurse, which involves assisting the electro-physiologists in managing over 2,500 implanted cardiac devices for patients to ensure proper function and optimization.”

Establishing trust with patients is key in Amy’s work

The ability to keep up with the newest technologies is essential in the field of cardiac devices. As Amy’s expertise grew, so did her relationships with patients. Said Amy, “I’ve established a relationship of trust with my patients so that they feel more at ease during their device checks.” Amy said.

“I recall when a patient thanked me for making a programming change that dramatically improved their quality of life. I’ve learned the importance of being a familiar and reassuring presence for patients during their times of vulnerability. It takes a lot to trust the person messing with your heart,” she muses.

Amy grew professionally through Dr. Sarik’s mentorship

Said Amy, “When cardiologist and electrophysiologist Dr. Michael Sarik joined our team, he saw potential in me that I didn’t fully recognize in myself. His encouragement pushed me to step up, to learn about cardiac devices from scheduling his procedures to interrogating the devices themselves. That encouragement sparked me to keep advancing my education and skills, ultimately leading me to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I began to see myself as not just a nurse, but as an integral part of a healthcare team making a significant difference in people’s lives.

A surprising fun fact about Amy

“I think people would be surprised to know that I spent 25 years in the Navy Reserves and was never on a ship. I trained as a field medic to be with the Marines and spent two weeks in the Mohave Desert with them. I have participated in combined medical service missions in Panama, Peru, the Philippines, and Jamaica,” she said.

Free time ?

“I like to be outside and active – hiking, mountain biking, running, kayaking,” Amy said.

Grateful for her work at the Clinic

“Not only did the Clinic provide me with a steady job, but they also gave me a family, a community, and a platform for continuous growth.  I was able to refine my technical skills, especially in my role as a cardiac device nurse. The experience I gained and the people I worked with have helped me grow personally in ways I never expected. My providers encouraged me to keep going and expanding my horizons. All of that, along with working and managing my responsibilities in the military and as a mother of four, led to a fulfilling career,” said Amy.