Long before graduating from Carrington College’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, it all started for Kenny Luke in the stock room of an ER. That’s not exactly what one would expect of an ADN GRAD; but working in the stockroom, he observed the atmosphere of the ER. And he never forgot what he liked so much about it: the immediacy of solving problems, the constant change, the opportunity to learn so much.
Before Carrington College, Kenny wanted to be an athletic trainer. He studied Kinesiology at Sacramento State for two years with a goal to work for the ‘49ers or the San Jose Sharks. He was lucky enough to chaperone a trip of high school seniors to the Sharks’ training facilities. He met with their staff. But, he also discovered the job was not as rewarding financially as he had hoped; it wasn’t going to make him the life he wanted.
The Father of his girlfriend at the time – and eventually his wife – did him a favor and put him in contact with the CEO of a bay area paramedic company where he got to experience the paramedic world. In the spring of 2013, he accepted a six-month job stocking supplies in the ER at John Muir Hospital. Not exactly in the room where it happens, but close enough as he said, “to put me into the realm I ultimately entered.” He had always liked learning about the body; he felt he was going toward that role in some way. He saw the ER as a good environment where you’re always learning and doing different things all the time. The connection was made: he would get a nursing degree.
Once you knew you wanted to study nursing, how did you find the right school?
I sent out a bunch of applications in the bay area first; I had started dating my wife and didn’t want to go too far. But I found it was very much in demand and hard to get in, so I started to look out of state. I had moved back home to Danville in the East Bay and while I was there, I joined a lacrosse team. The assistant coach had graduated from the University of Reno, Nevada and said I should look at their nursing program as well as Carrington College in Reno. Once I applied to Carrington College it all happened very quickly.
What did you enjoy most about the Carrington College ADN Program?
I liked how quick it was. I liked how they focused on hands-on stuff, you know, getting the real experience. They had great teachers. When I eventually started working in the environment, I noticed students from other schools seemed to be more technical and understanding the process intellectually, but more timid doing things and being hands-on. I liked the Carrington College students because they were always in the trenches.
What was challenging about the ADN program?
I admit I was pretty timid myself in the middle of the program, during the clinicals. I realize now I had been introduced to the environment, but I really didn’t see what patient care really was. At first, I didn’t want to touch a patient, I was afraid I would hurt them; the teachers were even questioning whether I was in the right profession. Maybe it was enough exposure over time, but Carrington College was definitely the place that broke through that fear for me because I began to understand: to get through the program, I have to prove those skills – whether I liked it or not. It was like a cold plunge … you get used to it.
Well, you clearly did, because now you’re working at Renown South Meadows – in the Emergency Room!
Yeah, right where I want to be.
What have you learned so far?
I’m definitely not as interested in working the floors; I’m not a hand holder, I like moving on and constantly having new things – which happens in the ER. I’ve worked on the telemetry floor, which is in the backend of care, monitoring heart rate for strokes, heart attacks, diabetic stuff. But I like to see what people come in as; I like seeing the front end and assess what’s wrong with them – it’s like puzzle pieces.
Now that you’re working as a full-time nurse, is there anything you can tell the reader of this article about the difference between what you thought nursing would be and what it really is?
First of all, it’s not an easy gig. It’s tough. But you have to always be able to show compassion. We deal with a lot of addiction and homelessness in the Reno area, and that population can at times be pretty thankless. It’s not for everybody. On the other hand, I’ve found the opportunities in nursing are virtually endless; there are so many things you can do. You can find a place for yourself.
And you seem to have settled in well.
Yeah. My wife Melanie and I were married in 2017 and now we have a five-year old son named Owen and are expecting a baby girl in October.
