Like most people who have lived for 50 years, Rudolph 鈥淩udy鈥� Waterman has had his share of successes鈥攁nd failures. But what happened earlier this year was especially humbling. Rudy, a former prison corrections officer who has worked as a caregiver and certified nursing assistant since 2012, was on track to graduate in May with his Associate Degree in Nursing from Carrington鈥檚 Mesa, Arizona campus. He鈥檇 even been selected to be a featured speaker for the cap and gown commencement ceremony. His family and friends had blocked the date on their calendars, and Rudy was looking forward to celebrating his success. 鈥淏ut then everything just sort of fell apart,鈥� Rudy recalls. 鈥淎t the time, I was working three jobs, going through a divorce, and trying my best to keep up with my school work. I felt like I was always playing catch-up because there was so much going on. I didn鈥檛 have a spare minute to just breathe. There comes a point when something鈥檚 got to give, and it did. I fell five points short of passing my Medical Surgical 4 class, which meant I wasn鈥檛 going to graduate with my class. I was tired, embarrassed, and disappointed when I learned the news.鈥� We talked with Rudy about what happened next, why he wants to be a nurse, and the lessons he鈥檚 learned while turning obstacles into opportunities.
So then what happened? You were two months away from graduating鈥攁nd then suddenly you weren鈥檛. What did you do?
Once the shock wears off, you have to decide whether you鈥檙e going to quit or keep going. There was no other choice but to take a deep breath, refocus my energy, and take the class again. During that time, I read a book called Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success. It reinforced my belief that setbacks ultimately make you stronger. You鈥檝e got to get yourself unstuck and focus on that next step. Within three weeks, I was back in class, taking the course I鈥檇 failed. It was with the same teacher but with a new group of students, so it felt strange at first. But before long, I got my momentum and balance back. Even though it鈥檚 not an experience I would recommend, I learned a lot about life鈥攁nd about myself鈥攂y going through it. I also completed the class successfully, which felt great.
What is it about nursing that appeals to you as a career?
I鈥檝e always had a caregiver鈥檚 personality, but I never considered a nursing career when I was younger. When I was a kid, I think most people still considered nursing a job for women. I just never thought it was a career path that was open to me. I鈥檓 grateful that people鈥檚 minds and hearts have changed because it鈥檚 a career I think I鈥檓 good at and a field in which I know I can make a difference. When a friend of mine encouraged me to think about becoming a certified nursing assistant years ago, I realized it was not only something that interested me but something I could excel in. As it turns out, it has been. Over the past 10 years, I鈥檝e worked as a caregiver or CNA in a nursing home, mental health clinic, behavior center, and a hospital.
What has your experience at Carrington been like?
It was a real learning experience in every way imaginable. I met a lot of phenomenal people鈥攂oth faculty and fellow students鈥攁nd I really value the education I got at Carrington. It wasn鈥檛 always easy, but it鈥檚 definitely been worth it.
You once worked as a state correctional officer in a prison. That seems like an entirely different world than nursing鈥攐r are there similarities?
Whether you鈥檙e working as a correctional officer or a nurse, you鈥檙e being of service and addressing the needs of other people. I鈥檝e always believed that how you approach another human being, whether they鈥檙e incarcerated or in the hospital, almost always impacts the response you鈥檙e going to receive from that person. In both settings, I鈥檝e done my best to approach every situation with a commitment to communication and compassion. When you respect other people and treat them with dignity, it almost always makes a difference.
If you had a friend who was considering enrolling in Carrington鈥檚 ADN program, what would you tell them?
I鈥檇 encourage them to focus on learning the material and getting the most out of the program as they possibly can. Some days will be better than others. Some classes will be better than others. There will be times when you鈥檒l feel like everything is going great, and other times when you鈥檒l wonder if you鈥檒l make it. That was certainly true for me. But when you graduate, you鈥檒l find that the experience will have prepared you for the kind of career and the kind of life you want for yourself.
You have a 21-year-old son. What do you think he鈥檚 learned by watching his dad return to college and earn his ADN?
My son is a hard-working young man. I鈥檓 hoping what I鈥檝e accomplished reinforces for him that a strong work ethic and determination eventually pay off.
What do you plan to be doing five years from now?
First, I鈥檇 like to gain some experience as a registered nurse. Then I want to return to school. In five years, I plan to have my BA and MA and work as a nurse practitioner. At 50, I鈥檓 not a kid, so I鈥檓 really focused on keeping the momentum going and making the time count.
What have you learned about yourself during the process of completing your degree?
I鈥檝e learned a lot about the power of patience and perseverance. Nursing school is challenging. It requires sacrifices and lots of adjustments along the way. You really need to keep your eye on your goal. As it worked out, I graduated in July instead of April. And instead of speaking at the May graduation ceremony, I鈥檝e been asked to speak at the ceremony in December. It feels great to be ending this journey on a high note. When you don鈥檛 give up, great things can happen. It might not always be on the timetable you anticipated or wanted, but I can tell you from experience that it鈥檚 worth the wait.
