Introducing Susan - Her rise from poverty to a successful nursing career

Susan was an American with a high school diploma, but no firm career goals. Upon completing high school, Susan had no real direction and no career ambition. Like many high schools graduates, she was just happy to finally be out of school, and beginning the "Free" life as an adult. What she did not plan on were the struggles that lay ahead of her, and how having no college education would make life so difficult. Susan got married at the age of 19. By the time she was 21, she was a mother of two children and she and her husband were struggling just to get by each week. Since Susan became a wife and mother at an early age, she never really got to experience that "Free life" that she thought was in her future when she graduated high school. Her husband worked long hours at a local factory, but since his income was all they had, it was barely enough to pay the bills and put food on the table.

Making ends meet

By the time Susan was 22, she and her husband realized that they simply could not make it on his income alone. Although the cost of child care would take nearly all of the money that Susan could make at most entry level positions, without a college education, they also knew that she had to start some place. Knowing that the longer she waited, the harder things would become, Susan set out in search of a career.

A friend of Susan's told her about a job opening at a local extended care facility. She told her that with very little training, Susan could get the job and at least be bringing in a steady paycheck each week. A career in healthcare had always seemed to be out of reach to Susan. She had assumed that she needed a college degree, just to get started. What she did not know was that the healthcare industry is suffering from such a shortage of workers, that there are a great many entry level positions available that require little or no training at all.

With the help of Susan's friend, Susan applied for a job at the extended care facility, and to her surprise, she was accepted in a very short time. Since Susan had no experience and did not have a formal education, she was only offered a basic salary, but at least it had some great benefits. One of those benefits offered tuition reimbursement for employees that were ambitious enough to go to college while they were working. This gave Susan just the incentive she needed, and allowed her to earn an income while attending college.

To go to college, or not to go

Susan had worked at the nursing home for nearly a year. Although she had managed to become a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA), she was not satisfied with her position and wanted more out of life than what could be received from having only CNA training. She knew she had to do more, and she also knew that she had to get started now.

Susan registered at a local college for a program to be a Licensed Practical Nurse. It was a campus based course, but at least it was flexible enough to allow her to work and attend the classes. After just over a year, she had obtained her license and was now beginning to feel the benefits of a college education. She found open positions at virtually every healthcare facility in her area. Hospitals, nursing homes, physician's offices, and clinics were all seeking LPNs, and getting a job at any of them was easy. She chose to work at her community hospital. Not only was the pay rate substantially more than her work as a CNA, it also offered vacation time, health insurance, and even more tuition reimbursement. She knew that this was only the beginning, and her new career also gave her the ambition and incentive she needed to pursue an even high degree of education.

Susan immediately enrolled in an LPN to RN program. She was ecstatic to find out that she could attend this program completely online, and then do her required clinical hours at one of the local facilities where she was already familiar with many of the evaluators. Her course schedule allowed her to work full time as an LPN while she obtained her degree, and gave her the freedom to finally enjoy her family life.

She found the course work very satisfying. Since she had already worked in healthcare for a couple of years, she had already learned much of the needed education from on the job training. The hospital she worked at allowed her to study during any downtime, and even provided a study group for those advancing their education in nursing. Between the job training she was getting, and the encouragement from her peers, Susan was always motivated and found the challenges of nursing school rather easy.

After only 1 year, Susan had obtained her license as a registered nurse. The LPN to RN bridge program that she had taken did not grant her a bachelors degree, but it did pave the way for her to obtain it with just a little more college education. The great thing was that she could already work as an RN and receive all of the great pay and benefits, while working toward her BSN degree.

Things were finally starting to come together for Susan. She was earning a great income, enjoying her family, having the ability to enjoy family vacations, and her husband no longer needed to work such long hours and extra overtime, just to put food on the table. Susan and her family were finally enjoying life, and realizing just what the world offered when a person was motivated enough to succeed.

Success provides freedom

Something that Susan had never counted on were the freedoms that she was finding with success. Remember that "Free life" that Susan had thought she was entering after high school? What many people fail to realize is that freedom only comes with success. To be successful, a person needs to be motivated and willing to make sacrifices. Susan was now learning that only after being able to secure her financial future could her and her family enjoy that freedom. She and her husband no longer had to struggle, and many of the financial worries were finally gone. When they would awake each day, they did not have to worry if creditors would call, or if the landlord would be knocking at the door looking for the past due rent payment.

Living in today's tough society means making solid career choices and setting life goals. Individuals that do not have the ambition to succeed often find life a struggle, and all of the hopes and dreams that they once had will seem to be out of reach. While many people will choose to settle for choices they made early in life, a great many will find out just what rewards await a person that is willing to make the sacrifices and obtain an education. Only then will they realize that the life they had always dreamed of is out there waiting. It only takes the drive and determination to make it happen.

Where is Susan now?

Susan finished her BSN degree and is still working at the hospital that she started at just a few short years ago. She is a nurse with the respect of her peers and her employer. She is now working on obtaining her masters of science in nursing degree (MSN). Upon completion, she plans to seek an administrative position at a larger hospital. Her and her husband took the vacation of their dreams a few months ago. They traveled to Rome, where they explored ancient civilizations and visited some of the most romantic places they had ever seen.

Susan and her husband are now financially secure, and most of all, they now have the ability to pay for their children's college education. By creating a successful life for themselves, they are also securing the future of their children as well. One of the rewards of becoming successful is that it gives you the ability to help your children and be role models for their future.