Robin wanted to follow two generations of nursing careers set by her grandmother and mother, but specializing in pediatrics. Approaching her mid-thirties with a husband and young son at home, could she make such a big commitment – and sacrifice?
Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge.
Where did that ‘nudge’ come from for you to take a new career direction?
I’d been working as a dental assistant for 8 years but had always had a passion to work in pediatrics (nursing). My friend, Jackie was talking about signing up for nursing school and researched Carrington College’s Las Vegas campus and their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. We had one of those ‘Why not?’ moments and signed up together.
Were your husband and son on board with your new career direction and support need?
My husband, Jose, and son, Jayden, (10-years old) were a big factor in supporting me. It was all about teamwork. And my mom, Virginia, had always wanted me to expand my role in health care, ever since she had gotten her LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) degree before pursuing her RN (Registered Nurse) license a couple of years ago.
What inspired you to take such a big step – and disrupt your financial and family dynamic?
I think life is about chasing an elevated version of yourself. This nursing program forces you to step outside your comfort zone and prove to yourself that you’re capable of doing the things you say you want to do – create the highest vision of yourself. And I found my passion in pediatrics dentistry, and it has grown with me through nursing.
Did you feel you had the drive it would take to successfully complete the ADN program?
One of my greatest passions is creating a more comfortable and less intimidating environment for children – to be able to gain their trust to provide that. Working with children, one-on-one at a much deeper level, helping them realize that something (medical treatment) is not as scary as they might think, validates the pursuit of my medical aspirations.
Did your Carrington College nursing program give you that opportunity?
This program is designed to challenge you in all the right ways. And I think you discover so much about yourself with those challenges. You have that dream implanted in you for a reason.
Did you struggle with your commitment to the program?
Just trying to keep up the pace of an accelerated program, your thoughts swing back-and-forth.
But I feel we are all in this program to challenge ourselves. It’s a little intimidating, but I tell myself that all this is part of the learning process, preparing me to be the nurse I want to be.
Did you develop friendships with fellow nursing students?
We see each other going through the same things and we help each other get through it. We build character – and friendships – along the way. I see a couple of long-term friendships and if I could keep all of them, I would.
Do you get the instructor support you need?
Our instructors do an amazing job. They see us as individuals instead of just a class. And they make the effort to get to know us as individuals and help us as much as they can. I didn’t expect to have such a strong bond with teachers and classmates.
What was your program externship experience like?
The school has connections with medical facilities, and we go in groups for clinical rotations (on-the-job experience). During ‘clinicals’ we may shadow a nurse for the day doing physical assessments, medical procedures or bedside experience. It was a little intimidating, but I told myself all of these experiences were preparing me to be the nurse I wanted to be.
I think all these rotations in different medical environments have confirmed my choice of career.
What were some of your favorite moments in your externship?
The realization that my true passion of working with children and parents in a more intimate setting (medical vs. dental) was affirmed (during clinical rotations in pediatric units). Gaining their trust and seeing them transition from being really fearful to more trustful, and procedures being not as scary as they thought, inspires me to keep going.
I think it validated that I can still pursue my passion of pediatrics more effectively as a nurse.
How did you balance home, work, school commitments?
I had to stop working at my regular part-time job in the fourth semester when we started these 12-hour clinicals at 6:00 AM, and I wasn’t getting home until 7:00 PM. At home, it was all about teamwork. Jose was the main one working and helping with cooking, laundry and picking our son up from school. My son would occasionally make his own sandwiches and do dishes, which was helpful when I was busy studying or working on assignments.
What is the DAISY Award you were given?
The DAISY Award – Diseases Attacking the Immune System Award, established in 1999 by the Barnes family provides a financial reward to medical nurses, faculty and students recognized and nominated for their exemplary commitment to their medical education and careers.
Other students nominated me, and I was given a folder of their statements that said I “stood out for kindness, going above and beyond to help others and showing compassion, making a meaningful difference”. The Dean of Students posted the announcement that we had the opportunity to nominate students, but I did not know other students nominated me.
During our Pinning Ceremony (medical program graduation exercise), it was announced that I would receive the first ever DAISY award for our campus.
What is your life like now that you’ve graduated from your Associate Degree in Nursing program?
I definitely slept a lot after graduation! We all feel the relief of not having to put time aside for me to focus on books and exams. There are definitely more movie days and a real change in pace and family time.
It was an intense and stressful part of my life. But I don’t regret that I did it and I wouldn’t have done it any differently. I don’t think I would be the same person if I hadn’t had this experience. This shaped me to be the person I am today.
Advice to anyone thinking about education toward a nursing career?
This program is designed to challenge you in all the right ways. I think you discover so much about yourself with those challenges. You have that dream implanted in you for a reason.
What is your vision for the future?
My vision is to work for Spring Valley Hospital, where I did my clinical rotations. I loved it there. Their Pediatrics or Labor and Delivery departments are the two main units I really want to work in. Although, any big hospital would be nice.
