Random Rochesterite: Macaila Eick

Name: Macaila Eick
Age: 51
Occupation: Nurse practitioner in palliative medicine
Where we found her: Purple Goat

Did you always want to be a nurse? All through high school I wanted to be a nurse. I took my high school classes in science, in anatomy, knowing I wanted to go to nursing school.

What’s rewarding about your job? I get the pleasure of meeting people in vulnerable times of their life, and I get to learn about them as people. I get to help to take good care of them in a way they want us to—to honor their life. That’s my favorite part. I really get to honor people’ s living life in the midst of some scary things.

Are you originally from Rochester? No, I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I was born on the Air Force Base—at Strategic Air Command. After high school, I did my undergrad at a small Lutheran school in Fremont, Nebraska. I graduated from that nursing program back when there weren’t any jobs for nurses, if you can believe that. So you went where the work was, and for me the work was in Des Moines, Iowa. And that’s where I met my husband.

Maya Giron / Post Bulletin

Well, now you have to tell that story. We met at work. He was a nurse as well, so it was a workplace romance. It was a small hospital; I worked on a med-surg unit, and Ed was in the emergency room. We ended up in a continuing education class together, and from there, we were like, “What are you doing tonight? Let’s go on a date!” And there you go.

How long did you date before you got married? [Laughs.] We started dating in May, got engaged in December, and were married in August! When you know, you know!

You have kids, yes? Yes, Morgan was born in Des Moines. Then Garrett was born two years after we moved to Minnesota. So he’s the only true Minnesotan in our family.

How did you land in Rochester? I got a wild hair and decided to go to grad school! Some people do bungee cord jumping—my friend and I were like, “Let’s go to grad school!” So I had Morgan in May and started full-time grad school in August. I couldn’t have done it without Ed.

Were you still working, too? I worked when I could my first year. Then, my second year of grad school, I went really part time. I did a lot of night shifts and weekends. We worked opposite shifts—Ed would bring Morgan in and I’d take her home or vice versa. That was insane. But we did it and we were happy. Morgan was two when I graduated, and there weren’t any jobs for nurse practitioners in Des Moines at that time. So we put all of my fishing lines out and Mayo stuck! We’ve been here since 2002. This is home.

Five things you love? I adore my family and my friends. And I love laughing and reading and quiet time.

Book you’re currently reading? I am reading an Erik Larson book, Demon of Unrest. It’s nonfiction, but it reads like fiction. It’s about the start of the Civil War.

Last time you laughed? Just now during this interview! And today at work. It’s Friday and we’re all a little loopy! I work with a great team of people who have wonderfully dry senses of humor.

Last time you cried? In November/December. My mother-in-law died last year and I’m an empty nester and it was the holidays, so I was feeling a little lonely. It was just a normal part of grief and the holidays.

A splurge you don’t regret? I bought a red tulle skirt because why not? We all need a red tulle skirt! It’s pretty and it’s fancy and it makes me feel good. And Ed and I just splurged on a vacation to Iceland. It was one of those “book the trip!” moments. Life is precious and short: Book the trip!

Perfect Saturday? A cup of coffee on a quiet Saturday morning on a beautiful summer Minnesota day, and I can take my book out to the hammock in the backyard and just read and maybe take a nap and hear the breeze in the leaves. Then end the day with a beer at a local brewery with friends.

Pet peeve? Mean people.

Best advice you’ve given? Listen to yourself—to your body, spirit and mind. I think I give that advice to patients almost every day at work.

Do you have a motto you live by? I try to live by the motto that we get one trip on this big spinning rock, so let’s make the best of it. Treat people nicely and live well.