From Caregiver to Mayo Clinic RN at 53: Billie Naas’s Nursing Journey

Billie Naas has never let where she is get in the way of where she's going. At 53, with three careers behind her, she turned the page and started a new chapter. 

In January 2024, Billie enrolled in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at ECPI University. In July of 2025, she graduated and earned her licensure. A month later, she began the first day of her residency as a registered nurse at the the Mayo Clinic, one of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world.

Before she ever set foot in a nursing classroom, Billie had already spent years as a professional pet groomer, worked in law enforcement, and devoted herself to taking care of her daughter. 

If there is a thread running through all of it, Billie will tell you exactly what it is: she has always been a caregiver.

A Life Spent Taking Care of Others

Billie started her professional life as a pet groomer, a job she described as her first love. She later spent five years working as a corrections guard before returning to grooming. But repeated injuries, including a serious dog bite, eventually forced her off that path, too.

While Billie was establishing her professional life, her personal life was equally busy. Her first husband was a transfemoral amputee, and her eldest daughter was born with a rare genetic anomaly that led to 34 surgeries over 34 years of life. 

Through it all, Billie spent years in and out of children’s hospitals and Shriners facilities, learning by necessity what it meant to advocate for someone else’s health and well-being. But the care came naturally to her. “It was either taking care of pets or taking care of people,” she said. “I just really excelled at it.”

When she and her husband sat down to think about what came next, nursing was the obvious answer. Having already earned two degrees, she understood the time commitment a traditional program would require and knew she needed an accelerated path. She researched her options carefully and applied to ECPI University in November. Within weeks, she had taken her TEAS and was enrolled in the nursing program.

Confirming What She Had Known

Billie went into the program knowing it would require her full attention. She approached it with focus and steady support from her husband and five children.

In the classroom, Billie found consistency. Her instructors, many of them experienced clinicians, tied the material directly to real-world practice and made it easier to understand how it would apply in the field. “They were able to share personal experiences that made the information more useful to us,” she said. “That was probably the best thing.”

She proved to be an exemplary student throughout the program, setting high expectations for her work and for herself. For that leadership, empathy, and commitment, Billie was recognized with the Florence Nightingale Award.

When it came time for clinical rotations, her preceptorship placed her in an ICU. There, she worked 36 hours a week and found herself genuinely sad when the term concluded. “I enjoyed it so much, I didn’t want to stop doing it,” she said.

That feeling confirmed what she had suspected. Nursing was where her future was.

Landing the Dream Job

When Billie began applying for jobs after getting her licensure, she cast a wide net: Seattle, Denver, Anchorage, and, almost as an afterthought, the Mayo Clinic. “I really didn’t think too much about it,” she admitted. “I was just sending out my resume to see what would happen.”

Then she started looking into what it takes to get hired at the Mayo Clinic, and her expectations quickly dropped. The competition was intense, with an acceptance rate she had seen reported at around four percent.

Of all the hospitals she applied to, the Mayo Clinic was the only one that responded.

What followed was a multi-stage interview process that began with something she had never encountered before: an AI interview. After several more rounds, she spoke with the floor manager herself. By that point, she had been told more than once that her chances were slim. With every stage, she pressed on, not expecting anything to come out of it.

Then the Mayo Clinic called with an offer.

Building a New Career in Care

Today, Billie is working as a registered nurse in the residency program at the Mayo Clinic, an outcome she thought was a long shot. What drew her to the Mayo Clinic was more than the reputation: it was the chance to be part of an environment known for high standards and collaboration. Even now, she says, “I still kind of have to pinch myself.”

The unit where she works serves primarily cancer patients, many of whom have undergone major surgeries like jaw reconstruction. Post-operative care is intensive. The protocols are rigorous and constantly evolving, because no two procedures are ever exactly the same.

Nearly every patient at the Mayo Clinic has traveled from another state or country specifically to receive care that cannot be found anywhere closer to home. Being trusted to care for them, as a new nurse, is not lost on Billie: "Being chosen to be a part of the residency program is an honor. Every day is another opportunity to learn and grow."

Billie is one of the only nurses at the Mayo Clinic who came through an accelerated nursing program. Her colleagues often ask her how she managed it and are amazed by her success in such a fast, rigorous pathway.

The Place Where She Was Meant to Be

When Billie was asked what she would say to someone standing where she stood a year and a half ago, she didn’t hesitate. “You can never dream too big. And you’re never too old.”

Looking ahead, Billie is especially interested in mental health and the need for more accessible, compassionate care. She plans to work on becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and focus on supporting patients and reducing the stigma around mental illness.

After three careers, five kids, and a lifetime of providing care, Billie Naas is finally where she was always meant to be. Now, for the first time, she’s building a future entirely for herself.

About the Author: Sarah Campo

Sarah Campo is the Director of Alumni Engagement at ECPI University. She is passionate about sharing graduate stories, celebrating their achievements, and building meaningful connections that continue beyond graduation.