What's the most important to you when getting dressed for work each day: that you look good or that you feel comfortable? Why?

The most important thing to me when I'm getting dressed for work each day is that I feel comfortable. I am not there to impress anyone; I am there to work as hard as I possibly can and do as much as I possibly can for my patients. The more comfortable I am, the easier it is to care for people.

What made you decide to become a nurse?

I decided to become a nurse because I was exposed to these wonderful men and women from a very young age. My father passed away when I was four years old, and he had wonderful nurses. They were the only ones through his treatments that knew my sisters and me by name and treated him like a person, not a condition. I knew that I had that same caring heart and wanted to take care of people for the rest of my life.

What is your favorite part of the job? Why?

My favorite parts of the job are the special moments that you have with a patient when no one else is around. The moments that remind you why you became a nurse in the first place. The moments where you feel appreciated and so deeply involved that you can't help but dedicate everything you have to healing someone else.

What is one thing you wished all people knew about nurses? About their daily routines and struggles?

The one thing that I wish all people knew about nurses is how intelligent we are and our true scope of practice. We are highly educated healthcare professionals that are essential to safe and effective patient care.

What did you hope to achieve or draw attention to with your monologue during the Miss America competition? Why was this so important to you?

Entering into the Miss America competition I honestly didn't hope to achieve anything beyond showing the judges who I really am and who they would be getting if they chose me as their Miss America. It is important to me because I don't want little girls thinking that the only way to be successful in the Miss America Organization is to conform to what they THINK the judges might want. It was important to me to be authentic. That is what I would want my little girls being.

You talk about the importance of positive, intelligent role models for little girls. Why is this so vital?

We are living in a culture where young women and little girls are, in my opinion, accepting a skewed version of beauty and success. I think it is really important for them to have a woman who preaches and practices success through education, service, kindness and body confidence. Most little girls and young women are incredibly impressionable and the more women we can introduce them to who are happy via a healthy mental and physical lifestyle, the better.

Did the negative reactions to your monologue surprise you? Why? What part of the criticism was the most difficult to deal with?

No, they didn't. I put myself on a national stage to be judged. However, the most difficult part was adjusting to an entirely new life. I am so thankful for the opportunities that have come from my performance, but adjusting to a life that I have never known in such a short time was an adversity that I had to work to overcome.

From Facebook user Tammy Taylor: How are you dealing with this instant fame?

In the beginning it was a huge lifestyle shock, and I had to learn how to live a life I never dreamed would be mine very quickly. I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to do just that. The way that I deal with the new recognition is by simply taking it one day at a time. I try to do the best job that I can for my organization, nurses, and for myself every day. I want to make the most of this experience through serving others-- that is what every woman's year as Miss Colorado is all about. Yes, my life has dramatically changed. However, I can now use this new voice to better the lives of others.

Did the community of nurses that rallied behind you on social media surprise you? What part of the support they provided meant the most to you?

No, they didn't surprise me. That is what nurses do. We take care of people - including each other. The amount of people who wrote to The View and battled their words for me meant the most to me. My heart was so full seeing all of the nurses that stood up for our profession and for me - without ever being asked. I didn't have to feel embarrassed by those comments anymore, I was able to sit back and simply feel grateful for the nurses of America. What a blessing!

Why do you think the nursing community is so tight knit?

Because if we don't stand together and stand up for ourselves then who will? If we don't recognize how hard our job is and love one another and what we do then who will? We have to be a team. Our job is too hard to not take care of each other.

Which issues do you believe are the most important to the nursing community at large? Why?

I believe that the most important issues are the issues of compassion fatigue and nursing burnout. Our job is not easy, and I think that many nurses have to continually choose nursing (even on days where giving up seems much easier) and choose to love a job that you must self-motivate to do every single shift.

You mentioned the issue of compassion fatigue and burnout: What are some things you turn to keep your love of nursing intact?

You have to remember why you started. You have to celebrate all of the little victories throughout the day at work. You have to take care of yourself mentally and physically by finding things that you love to do and making time for them outside of nursing. I also recommend changing specialties throughout your career. It is always fun and interesting to try something new.

What are some things that hospitals and the health care industry can institute to help keep their nursing professionals happy and engaged? Is there a solution?

I support hospital systems that have gym memberships for their employees. I also believe that attention to staffing, overtime, and requested time off is important. Relationships that go beyond employee-employer are vital to understanding nurses outside of work and taking care of them. It has to be teamwork.

Picture the perfect nurse. What qualities does he/she possess?

Caring. Intelligent. Humorous. Punctual. Professional. Over-achieving. Hard working.

Which of the aforementioned qualities do you feel you possess? Which ones are you still striving toward?

I believe that I possess all of the qualities. I am still working toward continuing my education which will add to the "intelligent" quality even further and joining the ANA which will work towards the "professional" quality for my personal development.

Share your most touching moment with a patient. What made it resonate with you?

The patient mentioned in my monologue at the Miss America Pageant. He reminded me why I became a nurse, because to be a great nurse you have to be much more than present.

Share your most touching moment with a mentor and fellow nurse. What made it resonate with you?

My senior preceptor and I had been working together for about three months when she started discussing her upcoming trip to the Bahamas with her husband. It was the first time she had ever discussed her personal life with me. It meant a lot to me that she trusted me and meant even more that she was willing to let me see her vulnerable side. Nurses are strong people but it is important to remember that they have lives outside of work that often times affect how they handle different units and situations.

From Facebook user Amy Lewis: What is the best advice you've ever received?

I can do anything I put my mind to. Life can be exactly what I want to make of it. I set goals for every chapter of my life and thus far, I have achieved all of them. I never let anyone limit me or anyone else's opinion get in the way of my dreams.

From Facebook user Chris Fletcher Arsenault: What has been your most rewarding moment as a nurse?

I have so many rewarding moments with patients. However, I think the most rewarding moment, being a new nurse, was the day I passed the NCLEX examination. It was the end of the school chapter and the beginning of the nursing career chapter for me. It was five years of hard work paying off right in front of me.

Being a nurse is such a physically demanding job. What equipment makes the job easier for you? Eg., what kinds of shoes, what kind of material do you prefer for your scrubs, etc.?

I actually enjoy a really supportive tennis shoe. I have low back pain if I don't take care of myself - being so tall.

How important is the right scrub to getting you through your shift comfortably and effectively?

The right scrub is VERY important. Comfort, flexibility, and protection are the three most important elements to a scrub outfit for me at work.

From Facebook user Marhia Abbuhl: What are your favorite scrubs?

I love scrubs that are comfortable, have many pockets, and are long enough for me!

What's the most important to you when getting dressed for work each day: that you look good or that you feel comfortable? Why?

That I feel comfortable. I am not there to impress anyone, I am there to work as hard as I possibly can and do as much as I possibly can for my patients. The more comfortable I am the easier it is to care for people.

As a nurse, you obviously don't get to carry a purse with you for essentials! What do you keep in your pockets at all times during a shift? How important are having multiple pockets and compartments for you to get your job done?

I LOVE MY POCKETS! I always carry ChapStick, a pen, paper, my penlight, alcohol swabs, and my cell phone/work phone with me.

In terms of what you feel most comfortable wearing, do you prefer solid prints or patterns? What are you the most drawn to and why?

Solid prints. I just feel that we look more professional in solid prints unless we are working with kiddos. Then of course, bring on Elsa and Superman!

If you could design your dream scrub, what would it look like? Explain.

It would be all white, V-neck, 8-pockets, extra long pants, incredibly soft and comfortable, and a black long sleeve jacket.

If you could have any high-end fashion designer design scrubs just for you, who would you want it to be and why?

I honestly wouldn't want any fashion designer designing them unless they had worked in the health care field. It is so important to understand what we do every day in order to develop a scrub that is unique to a nursing job. If I had to choose, I would have Nike or Under Armour design them, they design athletic wear and boy, do I run around a lot as a nurse!

From Facebook user Lori: Will you be returning to nursing now that you are a celebrity?

This made me smile. Celebrity is a very complimentary word, but I am still very much so Kelley and Miss Colorado. The two titles I cherish most. Yes, I will be returning to nursing as soon as possible with full support from the Miss Colorado Organization.

What part of the job are you most looking forward to getting back to after your duty as Miss Colorado comes to an end?

Working with the families. I love getting to know people and I love taking care of patients and the people who love them. My job has to be about all of the people involved. I don't want anyone to ever leave my unit feeling like they are ignored, not cared about, or in bad hands.

What made you pursue the crown in the first place? Was it a lifelong dream?

I pursued the crown for the job of Miss Colorado. It wasn't a lifelong dream, but it was a dream that never left me once I first heard about the Miss America Organization. I wanted to serve people and spread messages about health and wellness. My job combines the two, and it is REALLY FUN and REWARDING!

Do the nursing and the pageant world have anything in common to explain what made them both so important to you?

You have to work very hard to be successful in both worlds and you have to have great people skills including public speaking. I wanted to serve others. I wanted to make a difference and offer something to my community that was bigger than myself. Both jobs fulfill that desire within my heart.

What's the best thing about being Miss Colorado? What part of the job do you like the most?

The best thing about being Miss Colorado is having a voice that people listen to. I am able to speak to so many diverse people and truly impact change within their lives. I love spreading messages to nurses and Coloradans. I also REALLY love visiting our children in the Children's Miracle Network hospitals within Colorado. I get to make people's days all year long!

What are the best ways for grateful patients to share their appreciation for their hard-working nurses?

Say thank-you and come back and see me. Letting me know that you're okay and seeing you live the life that you deserve is all of the recognition that I need.

Of all the health-related organizations out there, what led you to become involved in the Children's Miracle Network, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, Colon Cancer Awareness, Boys and Girls Club and Alzheimer's Awareness Foundations? What about these causes makes them close to your heart?

My father passed away from colon cancer and helping others who suffer from cancer is important to me. Helping the youth of our nation and mentoring is something I also really enjoy doing. My grandfather had Alzheimer's and inspired me to discuss a condition that most people have some sort of connection to at Miss America.

From Facebook user Laura L Kreaps: How did you figure out what your niche is? I just can't decide!

I just did what I love. I knew my passion was to take care of other people, so I found a career and an organization that lets me do just that. You have to love what you do. In the long run, nothing else matters, I promise.

Why did you opt to specialize in critical care nursing? What makes it different from other units and specialties?

Honestly, I just really love math and science. I enjoy drama and critical experiences. I like to think that I am prepared to take on critically ill patients based off of my skills and education but also care for their families in that vulnerable time based off of my character.

What did you value most about your time in the Cardio Thoracic Intensive Care Unit?

I felt like part of a team that knew what I was capable of. Not many new graduates are hired directly into such a critical unit. I felt believed in.

From Facebook user Maggie Leary: I'm a student nurse at UMN and seeing you on the Miss America stage was amazing! What advice would you give a new nurse?

KEEP STUDYING. Try to learn as much as you can and ASK QUESTIONS. Never let your ego get in the way of taking the best care possible of a patient.

From Facebook user Julie Johnson Haffner: What do you want for Christmas?

Hi, Mom! Let's go on a family trip next summer. You know me, experiences are always more important than "things" to me.