Before Francesca Franco signed up for her Associate Degree in Nursing program at Carrington College in Reno, she had never been in a hospital before. “I was very nervous,” she recalled, mustering up the courage to walk through the doors of her first hospital. “You feel vulnerable.” But once she met the welcoming nurses she would be shadowing, she felt more at ease, watching them engage with patients and observing how comfortable the patients were opening up to the nurses.
She also realized once she began to apply her knowledge from the Associate Degree in Nursing program at Carrington College, that school couldn’t possibly teach her all there is to learn on the job. It was great preparation to work in a field that is constantly changing. New medical research that addresses diseases often changes the way treatments are administered, and it is in the hospital where the change occurs. She learned you have to be flexible. In order to administer best practices, a medical team must adjust. It “keeps you on your toes” she says. She soon became comfortable with the constantly changing environment, more engaged and her work rewarding beyond anything she had thought it would be.
This is her story.
Tell me about yourself.
I was born in Reno. We lived all around the area. I’m 27 years old and married; both our families are here. I have a two-year old daughter named Charlotte. I graduated from Carrington College in 2019; I was the first in my family to go to college.
Wow, congratulations. They must be proud of you. Did you always think you wanted to be a nurse?
No, not initially. I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. But my high school had a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) course. So I tried that and it really fit. I’ve always been a caregiver. I got certified, but I wasn’t 18 when I graduated so I couldn’t work as a CNA. Since I liked getting the CNA, I thought why not go on to Carrington College and pursue the RN. I learned about Carrington College from a friend who encouraged me to come with her to take the test to get in. I went with her and I passed the test.
Was there anyone that inspired you in your studies along the way?
Yes, my CNA instructor – I knew nothing about healthcare, so just being introduced to it in such a positive way helped me a lot.
What did you enjoy most about the Associate Degree in Nursing program?
I loved the small classes – we had twelve people in my graduating class. It was really nice to have bonds with peers and study together; and now we have lifelong friendships.
What was most challenging about it?
It was very fast paced. You have to be ready all the time and really be prepared to go for it quickly. It was very helpful to have family at home and friends in class for support.
Is there anyone at Carrington College you would like to mention? Anyone who influenced you?
Yes, Jay Brownson. At the time he was the med/surg instructor and now he is the Assistant Dean. He is so knowledgeable! He doesn’t like to say this, but he is so young and accomplished it is inspirational to see him work at the level he does.
Tell me about your clinical time. I know you are working at Renown Health right now; did you work there for your clinical?
Some of my clinical was in different places: the VA Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital – each semester was different. The clinicals were a great way to start to apply all you’ve learned – which you also learned was just a scratch in the surface.
Tell me about that!
I’ve been almost five years in the working world. There is so much you can’t even teach; the rest comes on the job. There are times when it’s been discouraging on my own as a nurse. But you quickly understand that nursing is changing, that you always have to be flexible. All the research being done means you’re always learning about diseases and new ways to treat them. Best practices are always keeping you on your toes.
As challenging as you describe it, it sounds like you’ve found a career that engages you completely, in ways you like but didn’t even expect.
Yes, that’s true. I think about how now I have a career I’m so comfortable with; I have a good work/life balance and I’m happy to think I’m going to be in it for the next 20 years or so. It’s great to have that kind of security in a career.
Hear more from Francesca and what it’s like to work as a nurse in Carrington College’s Real Graduates, Real Stories series:
