I have always had a passion for helping others. I remember telling someone in the 6th grade that I wanted to be a nurse. I ended up not taking that path at first. I started in healthcare as a medical assistant. From there, I wanted to expand my horizons and further my education. I have always admired LPNs from working with several in the past. They are passionate and take pride in caring for others. I was able to relate to these qualities since I also love to help others in need. On a personal level, my son inspires me to be a better person and mother. I currently work for The Christ Hospital Physicians as a Medical Assistant. My goal is to work at St. Joseph Home in Sharonville as a part-time nurse.
Hondros College of Nursing was best for me because their program’s schedule accommodated my work schedule perfectly. The main selling point for me was the evening classes, which can be great for mothers or anyone else who works during the daytime.
Nursing school is hard! Read your assignments, practice time management, punctuality, and make a goal to keep up with your attendance. Surround yourself with positive classmates, keep your head up to the sky, build relationships with your instructors, avoid any kind of negativity, bullying, and study, study, study. Your hard work will pay off! If you do poorly on certain assignments or exams, don’t give up! I was hard on myself during this journey, but I had to learn to be kind to myself. Failure is part of the journey. It is important to learn from it and move on. Last, make the best of your clinical experiences and always remember that safety is the most important. Be open-minded to learning new skills and think of the patients as if they were your family members. The goal is to give them the best care ever!
Andrea Henderson is a student in the Practical Nursing Program at our West Chester campus.