Page 34 - 50th Alumni Success Stories Book
P. 34

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.



 32                                                                      33
   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39