I Want to Be a Nurse

Alabama Nurse,  Dec 2003-Feb 2004  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

Wanda Jordan wanted to be a nurse even as a child. She started nursing school after high school, but had to drop out for financial reasons when got she married.

She tried to return later then dropped out when she became pregnant to be a full time Mom.

When she needed to help out financially, she chose jobs in the medical field; working in a doctor's office.

After the wedding of her only daughter, she entered the Wallace State Nursing program.

She was so thrilled about going, even though she was older that most of the students. She worked hard and got excellent grades.

With only one quarter left to graduation, she was informed that she had breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and would need chemotherapy for the next four months. She inquired about waiting on chemotherapy until after graduation, but her doctor would not agree. He told her if she would give him the next four months, he would try to give her the rest of her natural life.

She started the chemotherapy and scheduled the treatments around her school schedule. She was extremely sick, but continued with her classes.

The determination paid off. With her family present at the ceremony, she received the Florence Nightingale award and a standing ovation from her class and family.

She took her test in late summer and started her first day as a Registered Nurse at St. Vincent Hospital on her fiftieth birthday. She is employed now at Hill Crest Behavioral as a Mental Health Nurse.

It is never too late to pursue your dreams.

Copyright Alabama State Nurses' Association Dec 2003-Feb 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved