Page 33 - 50th Alumni Success Stories Book
P. 33

Betsy Jones                                                                  I was 30 and bored, living paycheck to paycheck,
                                                                                           working an accounting job with no possibility for growth.
              Nursing Program                                                              I’d been exposed to the Emergency Room (ER) while
              Tucson Campus                                                                volunteering with the Pima County Victim Services
                                                                                           Division, and remembered that my mom told me I would
              Graduated 2019                                                               make a good nurse, so I began to envision becoming
                                                                                           one. I researched and chose Pima Medical Institute’s
                                                                                           Nursing program because it was the fastest way to
                                                                                           become an RN. I didn’t want to deal with prerequisites
                                                                                           and waiting lists. I was nervous when I quit my job,
                                                                                           because it felt like I was risking everything. The program
                                                                                           moved fast and was academically challenging. The
                                                                                           clinicals were intimidating, especially since I really didn’t
                                                                                           have a medical background. However, those tough
                                                                                           trauma and critical care experiences prepared me for
                                                                                           my career.



                                                                                                I had an offer for an RN position in

                                                                                               the ER of a local hospital a month

                                                                                               before graduation.



                                                                                           My goal was to graduate with a job. My instructors
                                                                                           helped with my resume and recommendations, and I
                                                                                           pursued a job in the ER, which is a tough goal for a new
                                                                                           graduate. I had an offer for an RN position in the ER of a
                                                                                           local hospital a month before graduation. I graduated
                                                                                           with my dream job!
                                                                                           I was in my position for only three weeks when COVID-19
                                                                                           hit. It’s hard to be prepared for a pandemic, but I felt
                                                                                           qualified to care for COVID-19 patients. It’s a tough
                                                                                           time to be a healthcare worker. But, even though
                                                                                           we are weary and tired, we also feel fulfilled. I would
                                                                                           recommend Pima Medical’s Nursing program. I never
                                                                                           imagined one year after graduating, I would be able to
                                                                                           buy my own house. I have security and a career I love.



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