Before Francesca Franco signed up for her Associate Degree in Nursing program at 黑料不打烊 in Reno, she had never been in a hospital before. 鈥淚 was very nervous,鈥� she recalled, mustering up the courage to walk through the doors of her first hospital. 鈥淵ou feel vulnerable.鈥� But once she met the welcoming nurses she would be shadowing, she felt more at ease, watching them engage with patients and observing how comfortable the patients were opening up to the nurses.
She also realized once she began to apply her knowledge from the Associate Degree in Nursing program at 黑料不打烊, that school couldn鈥檛 possibly teach her all there is to learn on the job. It was great preparation to work in a field that is constantly changing. New medical research that addresses diseases often changes the way treatments are administered, and it is in the hospital where the change occurs. She learned you have to be flexible. In order to administer best practices, a medical team must adjust. It 鈥渒eeps you on your toes鈥� she says. She soon became comfortable with the constantly changing environment, more engaged and her work rewarding beyond anything she had thought it would be.
This is her story.
Tell me about yourself.
I was born in Reno. We lived all around the area. I鈥檓 27 years old and married; both our families are here. I have a two-year old daughter named Charlotte. I graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 2019; I was the first in my family to go to college.
Wow, congratulations. They must be proud of you. Did you always think you wanted to be a nurse?
No, not initially. I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. But my high school had a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) course. So I tried that and it really fit. I鈥檝e always been a caregiver. I got certified, but I wasn鈥檛 18 when I graduated so I couldn鈥檛 work as a CNA. Since I liked getting the CNA, I thought why not go on to 黑料不打烊 and pursue the RN. I learned about 黑料不打烊 from a friend who encouraged me to come with her to take the test to get in. I went with her and I passed the test.
Was there anyone that inspired you in your studies along the way?
Yes, my CNA instructor 鈥� I knew nothing about healthcare, so just being introduced to it in such a positive way helped me a lot.
What did you enjoy most about the Associate Degree in Nursing program?
I loved the small classes 鈥� we had twelve people in my graduating class. It was really nice to have bonds with peers and study together; and now we have lifelong friendships.
What was most challenging about it?
It was very fast paced. You have to be ready all the time and really be prepared to go for it quickly. It was very helpful to have family at home and friends in class for support.
Is there anyone at 黑料不打烊 you would like to mention? Anyone who influenced you?
Yes, Jay Brownson. At the time he was the med/surg instructor and now he is the Assistant Dean. He is so knowledgeable! He doesn鈥檛 like to say this, but he is so young and accomplished it is inspirational to see him work at the level he does.
Tell me about your clinical time. I know you are working at Renown Health right now; did you work there for your clinical?
Some of my clinical was in different places: the VA Hospital, St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital 鈥� each semester was different. The clinicals were a great way to start to apply all you鈥檝e learned – which you also learned was just a scratch in the surface.
Tell me about that!
I鈥檝e been almost five years in the working world. There is so much you can鈥檛 even teach; the rest comes on the job. There are times when it鈥檚 been discouraging on my own as a nurse. But you quickly understand that nursing is changing, that you always have to be flexible. All the research being done means you鈥檙e always learning about diseases and new ways to treat them. Best practices are always keeping you on your toes.
As challenging as you describe it, it sounds like you鈥檝e found a career that engages you completely, in ways you like but didn鈥檛 even expect.
Yes, that鈥檚 true. I think about how now I have a career I鈥檓 so comfortable with; I have a good work/life balance and I鈥檓 happy to think I鈥檓 going to be in it for the next 20 years or so. It鈥檚 great to have that kind of security in a career.
Hear more from Francesca and what it鈥檚 like to work as a nurse in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Real Graduates, Real Stories series:
