A Nurse Shaped by Her Community
Elaine Ollerton George never planned to leave West Valley City, Utah, and she never did.
Born and raised in this working-class suburb of Salt Lake City, Elaine built her career, raised her family, and found her calling all within a few square miles.
“I used to walk past Pioneer Valley Hospital as a kid and wonder what went on inside,” she said. “By the time I was 16, I was volunteering there.”
Now a clinical educator at Mountain Health Alliance, Elaine has spent over 20 years in nursing. She’s worked in hospitals, led teams through crisis, trained new nurses, and helped bring care to underserved neighborhoods. But her story starts long before the degrees and job titles.
Early Days in West Valley
Elaine grew up on Lester Street in a busy house of six. Her dad, Dennis, worked for Rocky Mountain Power. Her mom, Rosa, ran the cafeteria at the local elementary school.
“We didn’t have a lot, but we had routines,” she said. “My mom packed lunch for 300 kids and still made dinner for us every night.”
Elaine was the second of four kids and often helped care for her younger siblings. When her grandmother moved in after a stroke, Elaine became her unofficial caregiver. That experience sparked her first interest in health care.
High School with a Purpose
At Granger High School, Elaine joined HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). She also played midfield on the varsity soccer team and worked part-time as a candy striper at Pioneer Valley Hospital.
“I wanted to be busy,” she said. “I didn’t want to just sit and wait for college to happen.”
She graduated in 2001 and enrolled at Salt Lake Community College. To afford school, she worked nights as a phlebotomist. In 2004, she earned her Associate of Science in Nursing.
From Hospital Floors to Leadership Roles
Elaine’s first nursing job was on the med-surg floor at Pioneer Valley Hospital, the same place she once volunteered.
“It was full circle,” she said. “I already knew half the staff from my high school days.”
From 2007 to 2014, she worked at Intermountain Medical Center in telemetry and step-down ICU. There, she trained in cardiac rehab and mental health. She was part of a team that piloted a program to reduce delirium in older patients after surgery.
In 2014, she joined University of Utah Hospital as a charge nurse and clinical preceptor. She led a unit during the COVID-19 surges and coordinated PPE distribution and staff wellness programs.
“It wasn’t just about equipment,” she said. “It was about making sure people felt seen.”
She stayed until 2021.
Teaching the Next Generation
After years on the floor, Elaine made a move.
She joined Mountain Health Alliance, a nonprofit that connects patients with chronic care support. She now trains nursing students and community health workers and oversees clinical rotations for SLCC and Westminster College.
“I tell my students all the time: you’ll learn the medicine, but don’t forget to learn the people,” she said.
Elaine also holds certifications in trauma-informed care, behavioral crisis intervention, and is a certified clinical educator through the ANCC.
Awards and Recognition
Elaine’s work has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she was named Nurse of Distinction by Intermountain Healthcare. She was Preceptor of the Year in 2019 at University of Utah Health.
In 2017, the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized her as a Utah Latina Leader in Health. She was also nominated for the Florence Nightingale Community Impact Award in 2020.
Elaine’s connection to West Valley City runs deep. She’s a member of the Utah Nurses Association and serves on the advisory board for Nurses for Rural Utah. She co-founded Safe Haven Saturdays, a mobile clinic program offering free screenings in under-served neighborhoods.
She also volunteers with Be the Match, speaks at high school career days, and works flu shot clinics.
“I always say: you don’t need a title to do something useful,” she said.
Family, Bread, and the Backyard Garden
At home, Elaine lives with her husband Greg, a union electrician. They’ve been married since 2006. Their daughter Savannah is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Utah. Their son Leo is a high school sophomore who’s into debate.
Elaine is an avid baker and took up sourdough during the early pandemic days. She hikes the Jordan River Trail, collects vintage nursing books, and grows vegetables in her backyard.
Her downtime is quiet but intentional. “Sometimes I just sit and watch my tomatoes grow,” she said. “It’s good to see something move slow.”
Staying Put with Purpose
Elaine has spent her entire life within 15 miles of her childhood home. Some might call that small. She calls it complete.
“Everything I need is here, family, work, purpose,” she said. “Why would I leave?”
For Elaine Ollerton George, home isn’t just where the heart is. It’s where the healing happens, too.
Interview with Elaine Ollerton George
What first drew you to nursing?
I think it was a mix of things, helping take care of my grandmother at home, volunteering at the hospital in high school, and just always being curious about how the body works. But more than that, I liked the idea of being useful. I saw nurses doing that every day.
Why have you stayed in West Valley City your whole career?
This place made me. I know the people here. I’ve walked the same streets my whole life. It just made sense to stay and give back where I came from. There’s a lot of need here, and I want to be part of the solution.
What’s one moment from your career that really stuck with you?
During COVID, we had a young nurse on our team who was overwhelmed. I remember just sitting with her in the break room and listening. Later she told me that talk is what kept her from quitting. It reminded me that leadership isn’t always about doing, it’s often just about being there.
What advice do you give your students?
You’ll learn the meds, the diagnoses, the protocols. That stuff comes. But don’t forget to learn the people. Listen more than you talk. Slow down when it counts. Nursing is about human connection.
How do you recharge outside of work?
I bake sourdough. I hike the Jordan River Trail with my dog. I read historical fiction. And I dig in my garden a lot, pulling weeds is weirdly relaxing.
What’s your long-term goal in nursing?
I want to keep teaching. Maybe one day I’ll help build a new kind of training program, something more focused on community-based care and mental health. But mostly, I just want to help new nurses feel ready and steady when they step into the real world.
