A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: Jennifer Pavlinac

For just under a decade, Jennifer Pavlinac has dedicated her life to pursuing her passion for nursing. Now, she is excitedly taking on a pediatric provider role with Crown Point NorthShore Health Centers.

Pavlinac began her journey in 2017, following a 12-year career in cosmetology. As a cosmetologist, she found joy in her job, but she noted that it never quite sparked the passion she wanted out of her career. She began to explore other options, ultimately deciding to pursue nursing, a path taken already by many in her family. She enrolled in school and quickly discovered the passion her previous roles had lacked.

She began her medical career on a hospital’s IMCU floor, a median between the general ward and the ICU. When scheduling conflicts arose, Pavlinac found herself unable to continue working at the IMCU, leading her to seek out other work. She found her place at Lake Station School Systems as a district nurse.

“It was rewarding and it was challenging. It was everything all wrapped in one job,” Pavlinac said. “I was able to build really good relationships with the students, the parents, and even faculty. It was a really nice place to work, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”

Though unexpected, her pivot to pediatrics served as the last puzzle piece of many in figuring out where her passions lay.

“I never saw myself necessarily working with pediatrics, but I love it,” Pavlinac said. “I just found my niche with it. I absolutely love working with the kids, so I am thrilled to continue my career in doing so.”

As a result of her time as a school nurse, Pavlinac decided to go back to school in order to become a nurse practitioner.

“I wanted to be able to not only talk to the kids and tell them, ‘This is what you should be doing, this is how you should be doing it,’” Pavlinac said. “I wanted to be able to treat them as well.”

When it comes to nursing, Pavlinac feels the problem solving aspects of the job really allow her to get to the heart of her passions.

“I love to meet new people. I love to critically think and come up with the right diagnostics, the right treatment plans,” Pavlinac said. “I really thrive on that.”

Pavlinac also finds fulfillment in her ability to listen to and connect with patients. She prides herself on offering her full attention to each and every patient.

“In the hospital, you’re dealing with people who may be at their worst,” Pavlinac said. “Walking in with a smile, having a positive attitude, and listening — those are huge. Listening is the biggest thing. People want to feel heard, and knowing that has been one way that I’ve been able to connect with people.”

Pavlinac’s pediatric provider position with Crown Point NorthShore Health Centers comes at just the right time. After years of building up to this point, she feels equipped and excited to begin making new connections with families looking for healthcare for their children.

“Make appointments; come see me,” Pavlinac said. “I am absolutely passionate about what I do, and I’m excited to now be a nurse practitioner and to keep continuing to grow my career.”

For those considering nursing as a career path, Pavlinac hopes they can find some inspiration in her story. She offers words of encouragement to anyone hoping to pursue nursing.

“It’s a very rewarding career. You get to build strong relationships with people,” Pavlinac said. “Don’t give up. It is hard, but anything worth doing isn’t easy. It’s kind of like that old saying—if it was easy, everybody would do it.”

If you would like to schedule a pediatric appointment with Pavlinac, you can call the scheduling number (219) 763-8112. If you would like to find out more information about the Crown Point NorthShore Health Centers, you can visit its website.