A Calling in Critical Care
Posted on September 23, 2025
The monitors beep steadily, the air is thick with urgency, and every decision matters. South grad Bennett Booth has immersed himself in a world where the stakes are always high: the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s of Alabama. It’s challenging work, and it’s exactly where he wants to be.
“Every day, I’m responsible for a child in critical condition,” said Booth, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South in May 2025. “It can be emotionally and physically exhausting, but I get to make a difference for families when they need it most. That’s what drives me.”
Booth didn’t arrive at South with a clear plan, but he knew he wanted a career rooted in service. “I’ve always been drawn to helping people, especially those who are struggling,” he said. A suggestion from a fraternity brother to consider nursing ultimately set him on course.
“When I realized nursing combined both academic rigor and the chance to help people in vulnerable situations, it just made sense,” he said.
Discovering South
Growing up in Spanish Fort, Alabama, Booth always knew about the University of South Alabama. But it wasn’t until he visited that he understood what made it special.
“I’d heard people describe South as something unique, but when I saw the campus and the way people connected there, it clicked,” he said. “It felt close-knit but also full of opportunity.”
For Booth, South was also about community. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, one of the USA Southerners and participated in the Student Government Association.
“Those organizations developed my leadership skills, but more importantly, they gave me lasting friendships,” he said. “Some of my best memories are from those groups and the people I met through them.”
South’s nursing program gave Booth a strong foundation, but his preceptorship in the Pediatric ICU at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital was what most directly prepared him for his first job.
“I had an amazing mentor during my preceptorship who guided me through what the work is really like,” he says. “Her mentorship gave me confidence walking into this field.”
Now in his first year as a nurse, Booth has learned that thriving in such a demanding field requires balance.
“One of the best pieces of advice I got was, ‘Never let nursing school steal your sleep,’” he said. “Burnout is real, and if you let the job consume you, you won’t last. But if you make time for things outside of work like playing tennis, watching a movie or being with friends, you show up as a better nurse and a healthier person.”
