I started playing piano at age four. Raised in a conservative, Christian, Seventh-day Adventist home with regular weekly church attendance, I learned early that our purpose in life is to fulfill God’s mission and use our talents for His glory. Both my parents were missionaries when my brother and I were born in Bolivia, and they have always had a passion for helping people. This passion must have been passed on because I grew up loving music and nursing.
When I went to college, I decided to major in Piano Performance. Encouraged by my parents and my passion for nursing, I decided to pursue a nursing major. At the time, I did not realize how demanding and time-consuming both programs would be, but I did know of others who attempted and succeeded on this path. As the sciences became more challenging, it became overwhelming, and in the second semester of the nursing program, I was devastated when I failed a test by .1%. I hadn’t failed at anything before. Only years later, looking back on this experience, I realized that I was doing too much at one time. At that time, my love for music was much stronger than nursing because I had been involved in it, playing for select choirs and participating in special musical events and keyboard festivals throughout my academic experience. I had already traveled and performed internationally, and my goal was to become a concert performer, record CDs, and teach music-particularly piano, at the college level.
With pressure surrounding me, and the fact that I was no longer allowed to continue in the nursing program at that time, I put my energy and focus into music, graduated with two majors, Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy, and eventually earned my Master’s Degree in Piano Performance so that I could continue my dream of being able to teach on the college level. After finishing my master’s degree, I was hired as an adjunct teacher at the nearby public college, where I taught piano lessons to college students and older students.
The love of music inside me is as real as eating and breathing. If I were to stop playing music, a part of me would die. Don’t let your passion fade or pass away.
Genaida Benson
In the years that followed, I can say that the experience of “falling out” of nursing only made me stronger for what was to come because my father was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer several years later. All the major big-name hospitals told him he had three months or less to live and go home to die. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, was the only hospital that gave him hope. I moved back home to help care for my dad, during which time we made many trips to Mayo Clinic. Spending time with my dad and performing nursing care for him brought back my passion for nursing and music therapy. Witnessing the care and compassion shown to my dad at Mayo Clinic also gave me a vision: I wanted to become a nurse and work at Mayo Clinic to help people like my dad. When I visited with my dad, I would play piano for him on the Gonda piano in the lobby, and we would also listen to others playing music on the piano. My dad told me that hymns, especially, brought him hope and healing and drove away the depression caused by the chemo treatments.
When my dad became stable, and we knew he would make it, I applied to the nursing program at a different college. This nursing program, although very competitive, had an encouraging, compassionate, and dedicated team of highly educated staff members who mentored the students to prepare for passing the NCLEX. I prayed for God to lead and was chosen as one of 70 out of a bank of 300 applicants. This time, I had one goal in mind. With all my dedicated studies focused on nursing and wonderful mentors, I graduated with honors with my 2-year ASN degree and my four-year BSN degree. While I studied, I would use music as my stress release. I still performed at church and taught piano lessons, but this became secondary to my studies. After graduating, I started working to gain experience, and less than a year after graduation, I applied to and was accepted to work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Shortly after I arrived in Rochester, I visited one of the hospitals and played hymn arrangements in the lobby. These arrangements were without music and from my heart. They came from experiences that I’d had, and when requests were made, I believe God placed the arrangement in my hands. I made playing hymn arrangements in the lobby a regular habit after each workday, and then my patients and co-workers started recognizing me. They were the ones who gave me the name Piano Nurse. Now, I play the famous Gonda piano for patients, family members, and staff after my work shift in Radiology ends. Shortly after going to work at Mayo Clinic, I recorded my first CD, and now, several years later, I’ve just released my 4th CD. One of my goals was to become a music therapist—with nursing and music, I feel I’ve reached that goal. I am still teaching 15 piano students in my studio, and the lobby at Mayo Clinic has become my concert hall. In this capacity, I’ve been featured in a Kare 11 special interest story and nationally on CNBC.
Both nursing and teaching are demanding and exhausting emotionally and physically. Scheduling is also a big issue as I work a flexible 8, 10, 12 hr shift, including evening hours and mandatory overtime. When this occurs, I understand with each of my piano students that my nursing career comes first, and we will either postpone or skip that week’s lesson. All students have agreed to this before starting classes in my studio. So far, this arrangement has worked well as many of the students have parents who also work at Mayo Clinic.
Becoming a nurse has made me a better teacher. I can appreciate the student as a whole person. It has made me more compassionate and empathetic and helped me have even an even greater listening ear. That said, the reverse is also true with nursing. My deep love for music has made me a caring, compassionate, empathetic nurse with a big heart for helping people and a listening ear with attention to detail. Both complement each other well, and I have a continued thirst for knowledge in becoming the best I can be in both careers.
When I’m asked for advice on combining two challenging careers, I say this: never give up on your passion and dreams. Present your path before God and let Him lead. Don’t be surprised as the journey may vary from what you want…be flexible and willing to adapt to the challenges. There will be pressure from all sides and even teachers who tell you it won’t be possible. There will be pressure to give up and focus only on a “stable career.” The love of music inside me is as real as eating and breathing. If I were to stop playing music, a part of me would die. Don’t let your passion fade or pass away.
There may be a delay in achieving your dream, you may have to pursue one major at a time, your academic years may be extended to allow for more credits, it will be more expensive, and the challenge is real, but with God, all things are possible! Despite all the challenges, setbacks, and discouragements, it has been worth it. Genaida Benson (Piano Nurse) is a pianist, organist, piano instructor, and nurse who is active as a recitalist and has served ( remove duplicate) as an accompanist in studios and for select choral groups at both the secondary and college levels and has toured as a performer throughout North and South America, Russia, Scandinavia, Hawaii, and Bermuda.
Since her earliest years, Benson has been a church musician and has worked for various churches and religious programs. She has directed children’s music classes and was an assistant leader in children’s programs and Vacation Bible Schools. She has released 4 CDs and featured as Piano Nurse on Kare 11 television stations and CNBC network. She holds degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Pacific Union College, a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from Andrews University, an Associate of Science, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Adventist University. She has studied piano with Anita Ford, Rhonda Ringering, C. Lynn Wheeler, and Marcelo Caceres.
Benson presently resides in Minnesota, where she works as a Non-Vascular Radiology Nurse in Radiology at Mayo Clinic. She has been given Piano Nurse by her patients and co-workers and regularly plays for patients, family members, and staff in the lobby on the Gonda piano each day after her shift. She has been chosen to represent Mayo Clinic by performing at events and has received 3 Above and Beyond Nursing Awards. She teaches piano privately.