At the end of the day, I don't see them as two different jobs. I just see them as two separate ways that I get to help people.
Camryn Sparrevohn
Today, Camryn balances life as a night shift ICU nurse and a cheerleader for the Rams, a schedule that requires constant adjustment. “Balancing both is a little bit difficult, but my current nursing role allows me to self-schedule, so it works out perfectly and things just align exactly how they should.”
The Surgical Trauma ICU is a place of calculated silence and life-altering decisions. For Camryn Sparrevohn, BSN, RN, CCRN, it’s where she spends her nights managing critical care recoveries. But when she’s not at the bedside, she’s under stadium lights as a Los Angeles Rams cheerleader, living out a second passion that, at first glance, couldn’t be more different.
For Camryn, though, the two worlds are deeply connected.
After high school, she coached dance, building on a passion she had developed since childhood, while initially pursuing a path in physical therapy. But everything shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic. While volunteering at Kaiser Permanente, she witnessed nursing at its most raw and impactful.
“I realized I wanted to be a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she explains. “I was inspired by a lot of nurses to pursue the profession. There was this one nurse who wanted to become a CNRA. She inspired me to go into the ICU field and become a CRNA eventually.”
That decision led her to the Surgical Trauma ICU, where precision and vigilance are everything. It also set the foundation for a career that would eventually run in parallel with another demanding role.
Today, Camryn balances life as a night shift ICU nurse and a cheerleader for the Rams, a schedule that requires constant adjustment. “Balancing both is a little bit difficult, but my current nursing role allows me to self-schedule, so it works out perfectly and things just align exactly how they should.”
During the football season, her week is a nonstop cycle: night shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and most games on Sundays. Transitioning to a hospital that offers self-scheduling enabled her to sustain both roles.
“Working night shift, I don’t get a lot of sleep, especially during game weeks, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything,” she says.
Even in the middle of exhausting weeks, she sees time on the field as essential. It provides a mental reset from the intensity of critical care, allowing her to return to work with renewed energy.
While nursing and professional dance may seem worlds apart, Camryn sees clear parallels between the two.
“I think that dancing and nursing are very similar in many different aspects,” she says. “A lot of dancers are drawn to healthcare because we thrive on discipline and structure.” Both jobs demand mental and physical resilience, as well as strong teamwork.
Her work with the Rams community — visiting children’s hospitals, VA hospitals and homeless shelters — has also shaped her perspective as a nurse.
“I’m very fortunate that I am given the opportunity that I get to serve, impact and just connect with other people out in the community,” she shares, helping her stay grounded and connected to the broader impact of care.
Camryn is also helping challenge stereotypes in both professions. “I love all the people who I work with. They're such incredible people, and they just want to help the patients,” she explains.
The same goes for misconceptions about cheerleaders. “Everyone is so well-rounded and smart,” she says. “We have three nurses on the team right now and two pre-med students; they’re smart and brilliant and overall, good, amazing people.”
Still, the emotional challenges of nursing are real. One of the hardest parts, she says, is navigating difficult situations with patients or families, often beyond her control. In those moments, she leans into empathy, recognizing that their reactions are often rooted in fear and uncertainty.
She credits her dual roles with giving her the stamina to face these moments, noting that both jobs are intensely physical and mental, which “definitely builds up resilience over time” and makes her a better nurse and dancer.
Through it all, one lesson stands out: having an identity beyond nursing isn’t optional, it’s essential. “I think finding something outside of the hospital is very important,” she says, noting that it provides mental clarity and helps prevent burnout.
In both arenas, her purpose remains the same: showing up for others. Camryn says, “I am incredibly grateful and fortunate to have both roles that I get to serve and just help other people.”