There was a moment 12 years ago when I could have pursued nursing, but I chose a different path that led me to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Over the past decade, working in nursing homes, assisted and independent living settings, I found deep fulfillment in caring for others. Still, I also began to feel a growing desire to expand my knowledge and my role in patient care. Nursing offers the opportunity to build on my experience while allowing me to care for patients more holistically and advocate more effectively for their needs. The current social and political climate has further motivated me to deepen my understanding of healthcare so I can better serve my community and help address health disparities. Pursuing nursing is both a continuation of my commitment to service and a purposeful step forward in my professional and personal growth.
I chose Hondros College of Nursing because it aligned with both my academic goals and my life circumstances. Finding a program that accepted direct-entry students and offered a supportive pathway was important to me, and Hondros stood out. From the start, the admissions team was attentive and genuinely invested in me as a student. The Independence location was convenient and fit well with my transition from Chicago back to Cleveland, allowing me to be close to my family. The structure of the pace of the program is rigorous enough to keep me engaged, provides a strong nursing education, and allows me to move efficiently toward my goal of returning to my life and career in Chicago while still spending this important time in my hometown.
To succeed in nursing school, I needed clarity. I had to get really clear on exactly what I wanted, exactly how I could get things done, and asking for clarity throughout the program is essential to understanding nursing concepts. Setting priorities has also been huge since starting at Hondros. Yes, I had to take social media off my phone because I knew it was a distraction. I still have it on my tablet, but the tablet stays hidden until I'm done with my work and studying. Resilience also comes to mind because the first time you feel challenged when you didn't expect it, or the first time I scored less than I thought I would, I had to shake it off and keep going. The biggest behavior that I had to improve while here was my organization. For me that looks like a weekly checklist to keep track of exams, assignments, study hours, work hours, etc.
For any future nursing students, get ready to study like you never have before. Study like you want the person taking care of your loved ones to have studied, because on the other end of your nursing degree are patients with families who are counting on you to do your best. Is nursing school challenging? Of course it is, it HAS to be. DO THE WORK. But as a wise woman once said, "Don't get lost in the weeds.” FOCUS on your goals and don't give up. Be ready to be challenged, be ready to be stressed, be ready to learn and understand. I'm not a traditional student. This is a career shift for me; I have an adult child. But I'm doing it, and so can you.
–Rebecca Hastings is a student in the Associate Degree in Nursing Program at the Independence campus.