Elly Cochran

I chose a career in nursing because caring for others has always brought me joy, and it makes me happy knowing that I can make a difference in someone's life. From an early age, nursing has always called me, and I have always have had an empathetic heart for others when they can't help themselves.

The NJC program came recommended by many of my friends in my community, and it seemed like the obvious choice after talking to admissions and the coordinators for the program. Nursing school is stressful enough, so I wanted to stay close to home.

The program offers exposure to a variety of settings, and teaches future nurses what they need to know. It is important to be prepared when you start as a new nurse, and even though nothing can quite fully prepare you, I felt that I was ready when I graduated.

For my clinical experience, I was able to learn different aspects of many different specialties such as OB, OR, geriatrics, and mental health. It gave me more of an idea which specialties I liked, and which ones I did not.

The coursework prepared me to have a great foundation in the nursing field, and also for my graduate education. The personalized attention and the fact that all the nursing instructors were personally invested in my success, made me feel supported throughout the program.

I think there are many different nursing programs out there, but if you're looking for nursing instructors that love to teach, a small-town, supportive environment, and an experience you'll never forget (with friends and experiences you will always remember), the NJC nursing program is for you.