With the country facing a nationwide nursing shortage, the decision to pursue a career in healthcare couldn’t come at a better time. Working in the medical field has many benefits including a variety of sectors for all interests, stable jobs and steady earnings.
Are you considering jumping into the healthcare field? Hear what Simone Bellmer, a student in the practical nursing program, has to say about why she chose a career in nursing.
Spectrum News 1 recently talked with Simone and others at MedQuest College about the nursing shortage.
Simone’s Story
Simone always wanted to work in healthcare, but with most of her 20s spent pregnant as she gave birth to six children, the opportunity to follow her dreams never presented itself.
Instead, she spent that decade caring for her children and working different jobs, the idea of a career in healthcare put on hold for the moment.
“There was just no room for anything else in my life at that point,” she said.
A Turning Point
It was tragedy that prompted Simone to finally take the leap.
In 2018, her six-month-old daughter Delilah passed away unexpectedly. Born at 31 weeks following a car accident, Delilah spent her first month in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“I’m just watching these nurses and doctors caring for her,” Simone said. “She’s small, and they’re so good, and then I was like, ‘Ok, this is what I want to do.’”
Watching the care that her baby received in the NICU, Simone decided to pursue a career in nursing when Delilah entered kindergarten. But the infant’s unexpected death changed that.
Pursuing a Career in Nursing
To fill the void, Simone enrolled in a local community college’s registered nursing program, but the timing proved wrong, and she found herself just short of passing.
Hit by depression, Simone took a year off. When she decided to try again, she opted to pursue her licensed practical nurse diploma at MedQuest College rather than re-enrolling in the community college. And although the idea of starting somewhere new was appealing, the decision wasn’t without some trepidation.
“I was nervous to fail,” Simone said. “I didn’t want to fail again.”
A year after starting the program, the decision to enroll at MedQuest has proved a success. From the start, Simone found a supportive environment focused on student success. She has been able to continue working a few hours at a local nursing home and care for her family while attending classes.
“I’m just on top of the world right now,” she said.
A Career in Nursing at MedQuest
MedQuest’s 12-month practical nursing program gives students the knowledge needed to take the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become a licensed practical nurse and the skills to work in numerous healthcare facilities from hospitals to clinics to long-term care facilities.
If you are interested in MedQuest’s Practical Nursing program or any of the other programs, click to request information or schedule a tour. MedQuest offers the most direct path to a great career in the healthcare field.