Hometown: Princeton, KY
Grad year(s): ADN '19 and MSN '23
Why did you choose MidwayU?
I had been researching options to return to school to obtain a second degree to allow me to pursue nursing. However, I knew that it wouldn't be possible to do this if I couldn't find a program with the design and flexibility to allow me to continue working full-time in my non-nursing role in Public Relations. I chose Midway U because of their nursing evening program which made this possible.
Favorite MidwayU Experience
I enjoyed every moment I was able to spend with the amazing nursing faculty at Midway University, many of whom I consider peers, colleagues, and mentors today. I also greatly enjoyed being able to return to Midway University as a nursing instructor throughout multiple semesters teaching nursing students in the same evening program that made my nursing journey possible, as well as teaching the first-ever online pre-licensure nursing class offered here at Midway.
Current place of employment
Baptist Health Lexington, Nursing Transition to Practice Program Director
Skills Learned at MidwayU
I learned how to connect the humanistic, artistic, and scientific aspects of quality nursing into a unified practice that centers on patients and quality evidence to allow for the best possible outcomes based on patient goals of care. I also learned how to integrate transferable skills learned elsewhere into my nursing practice because of the personalized approach Midway faculty takes to learning. They didn't just see me as another nursing student; they saw me for the unique skills, attributes, and stories I brought and worked to help build on that story in a way that felt authentic to me and my unique goals.
Advice for future Eagles
We all are living unique, highly engaging stories that will necessarily change the world. It's our job to pick up the pen and take charge of writing our own stories. Start at the end: picture the perfect ending to your story and work your way back. The resources are there, you just have to make the connections and put it all together.
What was your favorite thing about Midway?
I greatly value the strong partnerships Midway University has formed with the healthcare community in Central Kentucky and the benefits that provides students and alumni.
What are some of your hobbies?
I really enjoy reading (fiction and non-fiction), keeping up with current events, participating in nursing industry events, traveling, and spending time with my family. In the warm months, I'm outside in my pool as much as possible!
Interesting Fact About You
I have had quite a diverse portfolio of career experiences--both prior to and as a nurse. I've helped in the development of commercials (including a commercial that aired during the 2013 Super Bowl), major speeches (including one delivered by the global CEO of a major automaker), and even came up with names for consumer products and companies. During the height of COVID-19, I was one of only a handful of nurses in the state caring for COVID-19 patients so ravaged by the disease they were requiring one of the most advanced forms of life support available, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ("ECMO") which takes blood out of the body, artificially injects it with oxygen, and pumps it back into the body; essentially bypassing most heart and lung functions.
Favorite Quote
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars"
-Oscar Wilde