For the past seven years, Jay Brownson has been a man on a mission. 聽 Back in 2013, when he first walked through the doors of 黑料不打烊 in Reno, Nevada, Jay was a 22-year-old married father of two who weighed 380 pounds. After several years working retail, at a movie theater and a portrait studio, he was ready to pursue an education and launch his career. 聽 Today, at 29, Jay is a graduate of the 黑料不打烊 Registered Nursing program, has completed his master鈥檚 degree in Nursing Education, and works full time as a nursing supervisor at a Reno hospital. He鈥檚 also been teaching nursing at Carrington full time for nearly two years. And after losing 180 pounds, the now-divorced father of three sons has plenty of energy to enjoy the active life he鈥檚 living.
鈥淏ig changes don鈥檛 happen by accident,鈥� Jay says. 鈥淭hey require a real commitment and a desire for things to be different. Before I enrolled in the RN program at Carrington, I worked my share of what I call 鈥榦dds and ends鈥� jobs. I had a lot of responsibility, but not a lot of options. I knew my life wouldn鈥檛 improve unless I got an education and focused on a career path. I was sure that earning my degree would lead to some great opportunities, and that鈥檚 exactly what happened.鈥�
While attending Carrington鈥檚 accelerated, two-year Registered Nursing program, Jay worked for a medical private practice. Shortly after graduating in August, 2015, he landed a position in the Cardiac Telemetry unit at Renown Regional Medical Center, an 850-bed hospital and Level 2 trauma center. 聽 鈥淚 was a floor nurse for 18 months before I was promoted to a leadership role,鈥� Jay says. 鈥淚 became a charge nurse for the night shift, overseeing and supporting the nursing staff. I鈥檓 now a house supervisor at Renown鈥檚 150-bed South Meadows facility, which means I supervise the entire hospital during the night shift. I work three 12-hour shifts a week, which frees me up to teach and spend time with my boys.鈥� 聽 In June of 2018, while completing his master鈥檚 degree in Nursing Education at Western Governors University, Jay made a life-changing decision to have weight loss surgery.
鈥淚鈥檇 been overweight since I was in second grade,鈥� he explains. 鈥淎t 380 pounds, I was really struggling at a time when so many other things in my life we really going well. And with three young sons under the age of 10, I need all the energy I can get. I鈥檝e lost 180 pounds over the past two and a half years. I鈥檓 healthier and happier now, and I feel like I鈥檓 living the life I was meant to live.鈥�
Jay says he believes his weight loss has helped make him a more effective nurse and patient advocate. 聽 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e encouraging others to live healthier lives, you can鈥檛 help but feel hypocritical when you鈥檙e morbidly obese,鈥� Jay says. 鈥淧atients don鈥檛 take you as seriously when you鈥檙e encouraging them to do things that you clearly don鈥檛 do yourself. That鈥檚 one of the reasons I used to be so self-conscious about my appearance. Now I can talk with patients about self-care and share my own story about how I鈥檝e regained my health and what I do to maintain a healthier lifestyle.鈥� 聽 In February, 2019, Jay reached out to Carrington to explore the possibilities of teaching clinical programs.
鈥淚 had great timing, because they were just beginning a search for an instructor to teach Acute Care,鈥� Jay recalls. 鈥淭hey offered me the class and I鈥檝e been teaching ever since. It has evolved into a full time position. It鈥檚 the perfect job for me, because I love working with students and guiding them through the process. I remember what it鈥檚 like to be a nursing student, and I do whatever I can to support them as they navigate their way through the program.鈥�
Jay says the past seven years have taught him the power of persistence. 聽 鈥淲henever I鈥檓 talking with students who might be having a tough time balancing school, work and family, I always tell them to 鈥榬emember your why鈥欌��, says Jay. 鈥淚 know that nursing school can be challenging. I know there are also times you wonder if you鈥檒l make it through. I鈥檝e been there and had those same doubts. But I also know that when you stay focused and remember why you wanted to become a nurse in the first place, it鈥檚 much easy to overcome the obstacles and achieve your goal. I鈥檓 proof that you can make it happen鈥攁nd that big changes are possible.鈥�
