Mother-Daughter RN Duo Inspire Future Nurses at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin

For Michelle Shebloski, 50, and her daughter Danielle “Dani” Pirkle, 28, nursing isn’t just a career—it’s a calling shared across generations. 

The two Northwest Florida State College graduates have journeyed together from emergency medical technician (EMT) training to nursing leadership roles at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, where they continue to serve and strengthen their coastal community.

The duo may be nurses and coworkers, but it's also clear that in their relationship, Michelle remains a proud mother to her daughter.

“I’ve always been proud of her from day one,” Michelle said of her daughter. “She’s always been an amazing person and a good leader. She’s never been a follower ever, not a day in her life.”

From EMTs to Nursing Leaders

Danielle, 28, now manages the hospital’s surgical care unit, while Michelle, 50, leads as director of patient safety and risk management after more than a decade in the emergency department. 

Their shared path began with EMT school, Michelle’s second career after leaving the military and animal medicine, which evolved into parallel nursing journeys.

“I went to EMT school and then, while I was working as an EMT here at the hospital, I put myself through nursing school while Danielle was off at college,” Michelle described.

Danielle also started as an EMT, completing her own EMT program in her mother's footsteps when she was only 19 years old. That experience sparked her passion for the ER. 

“When I became an EMT, that’s when I really fell in love with emergency medicine, just the adrenaline rush and taking care of patients at their worst,” Danielle said. “EMS was probably one of my favorite jobs just because you’re out in the world. You gain experience outside the hospital’s resources.”

Education and Mentorship Drive Their Success

Today, the mother-daughter duo has continued similar paths, both moving from bedside roles to leadership positions. Danielle is currently the surgical care unit manager, while Michelle serves as the director of patient safety and risk management.

Both women credit their alma mater, Northwest Florida State College, for setting a strong academic and clinical foundation. The college’s high NCLEX pass rates and partnerships with local hospitals, including HCA, positioned them for success. Danielle’s cohort graduated with very high NCLEX pass rates and went on to fill vital local nursing roles.

Now both women serve as preceptors and mentors, guiding the next generation of nurses through new challenges. Michelle also participated in developing a mentor program for new nurses to boost retention.

She looks back on her own training with the nurses who taught her solid clinical skills and knows the importance of guiding the next generation in the same way.

“I was taught by some very skilled old school nurses, just working amongst them as a tech — they definitely taught me how to be a good nurse,” Michelle noted. 

Paying It Forward Through Leadership

Though Danielle once planned to become a nurse practitioner, she discovered a passion for leadership and staff development and decided to focus on pouring into her nurses. 

“I got more fulfillment with that, so I decided to transfer into a leadership master’s program,” she explained. 

With the help of HCA’s tuition reimbursement program, she’s completing her master’s degree in leadership and hopes to one day direct an emergency department.

Michelle’s transition from bedside nursing to risk management reflects her belief in continuous growth.

“I’m not bedside anymore. I’m on the back half of it. But being promoted to the director gives even more fulfillment because I do have a little bit more into how we can keep our patients safe," she noted. 

In her spare time, Michelle is also working toward certification in legal nurse consulting, hoping to further expand her impact.

Rooted in Community, United by Compassion

For both women, caring for their hometown community is personal. Danielle was raised just minutes from the hospital and often recognizes familiar faces among patients and families. Michelle's own father was cared for by the staff she's worked with for years when he suffered a cardiac emergency.  

It's the personal connections in their work, hospital, and community that keep the mother-daughter nursing duo going on the hard days. 

“Seeing somebody’s worst day and getting a chance to connect with the family,” Danielle said. “Watching them take a deep breath, knowing they are taken care of by someone who cares, is always very satisfying.”

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