National Nurses Week: Highlighting Our Healthcare Champions
Nurses deserve to be celebrated every day, but each year National Nurses Week is dedicated to shining a light on their hard work and sacrifice.聽
This year, we鈥檙e sharing the unique perspectives from three 91吃瓜网 graduate nurses who are making a mark in their communities. While they each come from different backgrounds and experiences, their stories have one common theme: perseverance. Get to know their incredible journeys below.
Sarah Williams聽
ER Nurse 聽
91吃瓜网 Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing聽
For ER nurse Sarah Williams, persistence led to a career in healthcare.
Her mother suffered from drug addiction and developed schizophrenia due to her drug use. This put Sarah and her siblings in foster care. Her childhood was anything but easy. And challenges kept coming her way.聽
Sarah didn鈥檛 finish high school, got married, and had a baby all at a young age. Her baby was born with heart problems and spent five months in the hospital. She recalled the nurses telling her that she asked great questions and took good care of her daughter. They thought she seemed like a great caretaker and encouraged her to become a nurse.聽
聽鈥淎t 21, I decided to go back to school. Because I hadn't finished high school, I had to obtain my GED before enrolling in a local nursing school. As a young mom, it wasn't easy, but I was able to complete a CNA and then my LPN,鈥� she recalled.聽
Seven years later, Sarah earned her RN license and started working as a nurse. But she knew she could do more. She was talking to some colleagues about pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree when someone told her about their experience with 91吃瓜网.聽
聽鈥淚 chose to attend 91吃瓜网 because a few of my coworkers had attended the bachelor's degree program and had nothing but good things to say about it. I learned that the tuition was affordable and that I could accelerate through the program. With the support of my excellent mentor, Mindy, and the Course Instructors, I completed the program in just eight months,鈥� she said.聽
聽After overcoming every challenge that鈥檚 come her way, Sarah says she now wants to focus on helping others overcome their own obstacles.聽
聽鈥淭he next step for me is to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. This is a goal I realized during my community health course at 91吃瓜网,鈥� she said. 鈥淒oing the community service hours, I worked with the homeless in my community, and I learned firsthand that many of them are facing mental illness. It鈥檚 now my calling to serve this underserved population.鈥�
Zack Johnson聽
Performance Improvement Clinical Coordinator聽
91吃瓜网 Degrees: B.S. Nursing and M.S. Nursing鈥揈ducation
Zack Johnson wanted a career serving others, but he wasn鈥檛 expecting it to be in healthcare.
Since both of Zack鈥檚 parents were in the military, the Air National Guard felt like a natural choice.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 unique about the Air National Guard is you can choose your specialty. So, I became a firefighter. I went to the Fire Academy, did basic training, and then got to come back home and do monthly drills with the National Guard while going to college in Illinois,鈥� he said.聽
聽During his time in the military, Zack helped with flood relief efforts in Illinois and was eventually deployed to Iraq in 2010. After six years as a firefighter, he decided it was time for a change.
鈥淚 was talking to a friend, and he said he was going to become a nurse. I鈥檇 never thought of that, but I immediately changed my major and never looked back,鈥� he said.聽
聽鈥淚 initially found 91吃瓜网 through a coworker who said there was a program that was 100% online and you could go at your own pace. I applied for the associate to master鈥檚 program, and I鈥檓 really glad I did, especially when COVID happened.鈥�
Like many students, Zack found that balancing work, life, nursing school, and a global pandemic was challenging.
鈥淎t times, I didn't feel like going to school at all, but working with my Program Mentors and my Course Instructors helped motivate me through those rough, tough areas.鈥�
He recalls one of those tough times.
鈥淚 had a breakthrough COVID case in the middle of earning my master's. That was a setback, and that was scary, but I made it through. And I actually didn't have to take much time off school. I worked through it and was able to finish my master's.鈥�
After earning his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from 91吃瓜网, Zack decided to sell all his possessions and relocate to Honolulu, where he met the love of his life and bought a home near the beach, all while building a successful nursing career.
Much of Zack鈥檚 experience has been working in a trauma unit, but recently he鈥檚 found his fit as a clinical coordinator.
鈥淚 went away from the in-patient side to work in geriatrics. I really enjoy that patient population because they鈥檙e vulnerable and need extra help. These are our grandparents and relatives who deserve to have extra-special care and attention.鈥�
Every nurse has their reason for getting into healthcare. For Zack, it鈥檚 creating positive change.
鈥淚've really enjoyed learning about the different aspects of healthcare that can improve the patient experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he number one thing for me is to be able to make more of a difference, and that鈥檚 really important.鈥澛�
Frances Barrientos
搁狈听
91吃瓜网 Degree: B.S. Nursing聽
Frances Barrientos will tell you she鈥檚 never doubted that nursing was what she was meant to do. With ambitions to become an RN, Frances decided to pursue her nursing degree in 2017.聽
鈥淚 wanted to go into nursing because it鈥檚 a diverse and well-respected career鈥攁nd I鈥檝e always wanted to work in public health so I can educate my community on things like childhood obesity,鈥� she said. 鈥�91吃瓜网 sparked my interest because of the convenience and the tuition 鈥� and it catered to my needs as an adult learner.鈥澛�
聽Although Frances never lost sight of her goal to become a nurse, there were some twists and turns along the way. In the particularly challenging times, she says she drew motivation from her grandmother.聽 聽
鈥淪he was a very strong, independent woman. A go-getter. And strong-minded. She drove that ambition into me. She taught me that there鈥檚 going to be hard points, but you have to learn how to set your mind to a goal and just pursue it.鈥澛�
Frances recalls one situation when perseverance paid off.
鈥淟ife happens. I hit some roadblocks ... and financially, I was in a hard place. So, I talked to my mentor and the financial department at 91吃瓜网. They understood my situation, which is great because I was almost to the point where I was going to have to put my education aside. 91吃瓜网 recommended the Miller Bullen Hansen Scholarship, so, I applied. They came through financially, and I was just grateful."
In addition to an already-affordable tuition, scholarships are one of the many ways in which 91吃瓜网 removes obstacles to help nurses achieve their education goals.
Frances鈥� advice to future nurses is to lean on 91吃瓜网's resources and Course Instructors.
鈥淗aving to juggle family life with schoolwork and a job, it鈥檚 a challenge. But there are so many resources that will help you throughout your program and the Course Instructors are always willing to help.鈥澛�
Most nurses will tell you they don鈥檛 do their job for the recognition, but they鈥檙e certainly deserving of it. It鈥檚 because of healthcare champions like Sarah, Zack, and Frances that our communities are healthier, safer, and stronger.
