A Valpo Life in the Spotlight: Victoria Schwarten

Building a career as a family nurse practitioner is something that Victoria Schwarten, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, first envisioned many years ago. The opportunity to care for people and develop relationships with patients and families, rather than focusing on only one disease or age group, has always provided Schwarten with fascinating possibilities.

“I have always believed that good healthcare involves more than diagnosing an illness and prescribing medication. Education, prevention, listening to patients, understanding what is happening in their everyday lives, and helping them navigate their options are all incredibly important,” Schwarten said.

Schwarten is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and the founder of Victorious Prestige Wellness & Advocacy and the Victorious Prestige Foundation. She attributes personal experiences for reinforcing the value of having healthcare professionals look at the whole person. Chronic conditions, disabilities, complex medical history – these situations require someone who can listen, communicate, and connect those pieces to find the best solution.

Growing up in Griffith and Hammond, Schwarten has lived in Northwest Indiana her entire life. She attended Ivy Tech Community College in both Gary and Valparaiso, and she began her career in nursing while continuing her education. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Schwarten has worked in primary care, urgent care, occupational medicine, geriatrics, hospice, chronic disease management, in-home healthcare, and care management. These experiences, along with her experience of being a parent, have exposed her to the various perspectives of healthcare.

“I have three children – two older sons who are physically healthy and my daughter, Lena, who was born premature at 23 weeks and has experienced complex medical and developmental needs throughout her life,” Schwarten said. “Having children with different healthcare needs has given me a unique perspective as both a parent and healthcare provider. With Lena, I have had extensive personal experience navigating nearly every level of the healthcare system. This includes inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, specialists, therapies, rehabilitation, insurance, Medicaid and disability programs, special education, and home and community-based services.”

Navigating healthcare and disability systems with her family, combined with her personal experience, led Schwarten to start up Victorious Prestige. Schwarten saw gaps in healthcare and community services, where patients needed not only medical treatment but also someone to listen to their story and help them understand their options.

“Even for someone with a healthcare background, I understand how difficult the process can be. It made me aware of how challenging these systems can be for patients and families who don’t have medical training or someone helping them along the way. Those experiences became an important part of the Victorious Prestige Foundation,” said Schwarten.

Schwarten’s clinical practice allows her to provide primary and preventative healthcare while also offering wellness services and individualized care. However, it was Schwarten’s mission to have her work reach beyond the walls of a medical office, leading to the birth of the Victorious Prestige Foundation. This foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization focused on community health education, advocacy, disability inclusion, prevention, and creating opportunities for individuals and families who may otherwise face barriers to participating in their communities.

“Our programs allow us to combine health education, inclusion, activity, socialization, and community involvement in ways that are welcoming to people with different abilities,” Schwarten said. “ I wanted to build something that approached health more broadly—not just treating illness, but helping people become healthier, better informed, better supported, and more connected to their community.”

When choosing a home for Victorious Prestige, Schwarten decided on Valparaiso due to its strong sense of community. Schwarten believes Valparaiso offers a balance of a growing community while still being a place that neighbors can call one another for support if needed.

“There are so many individuals, organizations, businesses, and community leaders here who genuinely want to become involved and make Northwest Indiana better. As a family that has also experienced disability and the need for accessible community opportunities firsthand, inclusion is especially meaningful to me,” Schwarten said. “Through Victorious Prestige and the Foundation, I hope to continue building partnerships throughout Valparaiso, Porter County, and Northwest Indiana that bring people together and make health, education, recreation, and community participation more accessible.”

Currently, Schwarten is in the process of building a healthcare model through Victorious Prestige. She believes the need is significant in the community for healthcare, especially for individuals with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and the families and caregivers who support them.

“Healthcare advocacy doesn’t stop with treating high blood pressure, coughs and colds, or other routine medical concerns. Health is affected by whether someone can access appropriate care, understand their options, participate in their community, obtain needed services, and successfully navigate systems that were not always designed with disability in mind,” Schwarten said. “This is a new model, and I expect it will continue to evolve as I learn more about what individuals, families, caregivers, and the community need.”

For Schwarten, healthcare is more than treating a diagnosis; it’s about looking at the bigger picture. Understanding what is affecting the health and quality of life for the people who need healthcare services is the whole purpose of why this model is being constructed through Victorious Prestige.

Outside of work, Schwarten enjoys spending time with her family, creating new opportunities, and participating in activities that bring people together. Developing new ideas, meeting new people, being involved, and watching families participate in these experiences brings a smile to her face.

Healthcare can be a challenging industry and, in some cases, scary. Schwarten encourages other aspiring healthcare professionals to take things one step at a time.

“Each degree, position, challenge, and experience taught me something that eventually became useful, even when I could not necessarily see it at the time,” Schwarten said. “I encourage future healthcare professionals to never underestimate what patients and families teach you. Clinical knowledge is incredibly important, but so is listening.”

You can learn more about Schwarten and the Victorious Prestige Foundation at victoriousprestigefoundation.org.