Hi, I'm Liz Olivas. 

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I’m really glad you’re here.

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For over a decade, I’ve worked as an emergency department nurse, supporting people through some of the most intense and vulnerable moments of their lives. The ER is fast, unpredictable, and high-stakes, and it demands a level of steadiness that most people outside of healthcare never fully see.

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Over the years, I’ve also had the privilege of precepting and mentoring new nurses entering that environment for the first time. I noticed something again and again: many incredibly capable nurses begin to doubt themselves in their first years — not because they lack intelligence or compassion, but because the pressure of the job can overwhelm even the most dedicated professionals.

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But my journey of helping people build confidence actually started long before nursing.

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After graduating from high school, I returned to my alma mater as an assistant coach for the fencing team. Coaching taught me something that has stayed with me ever since: confidence doesn’t appear overnight. It grows when someone helps you recognize your strengths, practice your skills, and trust yourself under pressure.

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Every athlete was different. Some needed encouragement. Some needed structure. Some just needed someone to believe in them before they believed in themselves.

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That same lesson carried with me into nursing.

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When I began precepting new nurses in the emergency department, I saw the same pattern. Talented, compassionate nurses were questioning themselves constantly, wondering if they were cut out for the profession. Not because they lacked ability, but because the pressure of the environment made it difficult to trust their own judgment.

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New nurses often believe confidence should come naturally.

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In reality, confidence is something that develops over time with the right support, guidance, and experience.

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That realization is what led me to create Shift to Serenity.

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Shift to Serenity is a space created to help nurses move from chaos to clarity. Here, nurses learn how to steady themselves during difficult shifts, trust their clinical judgment, and build the internal confidence needed to grow into the nurse they want to become.

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I believe serenity isn’t about escaping the chaos of nursing.

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It’s about learning how to remain grounded within it.

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Through coaching, education, and supportive conversations, I help nurses strengthen the mindset, energy, skillset, and strategy needed to navigate the early years of their careers with greater confidence and resilience.

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Because the truth is this:

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You are not failing at nursing.
You are learning how to become one.

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And you don’t have to figure that out alone.

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If you're a nurse who feels overwhelmed, uncertain, or like you're constantly questioning yourself on shift, know that you're not the only one — and there is a path forward.

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Sometimes the most powerful first step is simply reaching out.

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