Asha Morgan always knew she wanted to be a nurse and work with children, but putting those career education wheels into motion can be overwhelming. She did her research and chose a clear path that Carrington College’s Vocational Nursing program offered. Becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) was the perfect stepping-stone toward her ultimate goal: BSRN – Bachelor of Science in Registered Nurse.
Both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road; Asha ivos putting her pedal to the metal.
What inspired your medical career vision?
I knew I wanted to be a nurse for a long time, I just wasn’t sure how to go about finding Registered Nursing (RN) programs. At that time, I’d never heard about Vocational Nursing programs, but after some research I knew this would be best for me before pursuing becoming an RN. I wanted to work in the field and get a feel for nursing before pursuing that level.
What inspired your medical career vision?
Growing up I had a lot of family and friends who were in nursing. I always just loved kids and did a lot of babysitting when I was younger, so knew I wanted to work in that area.
My godmother is a Nurse Practitioner, my great aunt is a Labor and Delivery nurse, and my stepmom is a nurse. I got to hear a lot of perspectives that solidified my direction.
Why Carrington College’s Vocational Nursing program?
I researched a lot of different (nursing) programs, and I had a virtual interview with Carrington College. After hearing how the program was set up, it made me realize that this is definitely where I wanted to go. What Carrington College offered aligned more with what I wanted to do.
Did Carrington College’s Vocational Nursing program meet your expectations?
I thought it was going to be more like Community College with 30 other people in class – you’re on your own. But our small class size was a very intimate group, and we were all there for the same thing and connected right away. We were an intimate group, helping each other out.
We were spending 10-hours a day, five days a week together with a mutual intention to study hard, graduate and all become nurses.
What did you like most about the Vocational Nursing program?
We had a skills lab where we practiced hands-on things we will do out in the field. I was so nervous and now, after six months of being out in the field (in my current position) these are things I do every day, like clockwork. It’s funny to think there was a time I was intimidated by it.
It was an an accelerated program (which can be completed in as few as 12 months), accelerated program that makes it kind of hard; but if it’s something you’re interested in, you should just go for it.
What were your greatest struggles in the Vocational Nursing program?
I could do the reading and homework, but I had a really hard time with exams. I met with Christine (instructor), crying. She reminded me that I knew the content and exactly what I needed to do to get it done. I trusted what she said, and it really helped.
I just had to remember why I was there; for my education, for my career. It was harder because I was also working 20 hours a week as a food server.
What are the Vocational Nursing program’s ‘clinicals’?
Clinicals are on-the-job experience out in the field, and some of the clinicals were a long way away for me. I spent a lot of time commuting and stuck in traffic.
But I got to look at a lot of different fields of nursing and being hands-on for 12-hours inside a medical facility, working under nurses, gives you the good and the bad of nursing. And you can know, “Ok, this is what you’re going to be doing.”
Did you get the instructor support you needed throughout the Vocational Nursing program?
Everyone is there to help you have a good experience. I saw some of my classmates fail because they were embarrassed to ask questions. If you don’t ask for help or meet with instructors when you’re falling behind, it’s self-sabotage. And that can make or break your success. All my teachers cared about us as people.
Our teachers are having those hard conversations with us and connecting with emails. They’re listening to our problems, struggles…about our personal problems, as well. They cared about us as people, not just students. They have real stories and mistakes they’ve made; they’re not just reading out of a book.
What inspired you to keep pushing ahead?
Completing each term was validation that I was getting closer to my goal. I felt like the program flew by so quickly; it’s a blur. In the beginning, it seemed like a long time, but once you’re there every day in class, the time just flies by.
What advice do you have for new Vocational Nursing students at Carrington College?
It’s going to be hard, so stay on top of your work and try not to fall behind. Be organized and find a good study habit. Find people in your class; you can help each other. Or work one-on-one with a classmate to figure some things out.
Where did you land after completing your Vocational Nursing program at Carrington College?
I wanted to work in the field and get a feel for nursing before pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Registered Nursing that I hope to start online in the fall.
A lot of what I do at work is similar to what I did in school. Coming into my job, I felt pretty confident. I do a lot of assessments, administer medications, review lab work, communicate with doctors regarding patients and dealing with family members is very important – especially if a patient passes. I do feel I was prepared at school for the things I’m doing at work.
My area of interest is still working with kids. I got to do my ‘clinicals’ with children that were pretty medically acute, as well as with kids at a daycare facility. You have to be able to interact with healthy kids to be able to know how to interact with kids who are sick.
What does your immediate future look like?
I told myself I would give six months at my job because they will be really flexible when I start school again. I will use the three elements of a good nurse: patience, compassion and sacrifice to accomplish my next goals.
