Congratulations to all the IU School of Nursing December 2024 BSN graduates at our Fort Wayne and Indianapolis campuses! Below, learn more about a few of our graduates, why they chose to pursue nursing, and their plans after graduation.
Kayla Voth
Completed the Traditional BSN track at the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: I chose nursing as my profession due to personal experiences within my own life related to health and the healthcare profession as a whole! I always knew I wanted to go into the medical field in some capacity and I instantly clicked with nursing due to my personal experiences with hospitals.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I chose IUSON because of the close proximity to some of the top hospitals in Indiana, as well as the high passing rate for NCLEX, and the ranking that IUSON has won over the years for the program! One of my favorite memories I have here at IUSON has been through my clinical experiences and meeting my best friends during this time!
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: My plans post graduation are to move back home to Chicago! I have accepted a position at Northwestern Hospital on their stem cell transplant unit as an oncology nurse!
Sidneya Seals
Completed the Accelerated BSN track at the Fort Wayne campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: I chose to pursue nursing as I was finishing my first degree. I was working in a group home with people with intellectual disabilities. I originally wanted to pursue medical imaging, but as I began caring for these individuals, I decided to change paths. My first degree was in Health Science, and I was able to use that to meet the nursing prerequisites.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I chose IU due to the cost, accelerated option, and the NCLEX passing rate. My favorite memory at IU has been my clinical at Parkview for OB. I got to see 2 births!
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: After I graduate, I will be working on a MedSurg unit at Parkview Regional Medical Center. I have accepted a position post-graduation after being a student nurse apprentice on 6 North for 2.5 years.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: I've loved being and learning with my cohort and can't wait to see where my nursing career takes me!
Chaunte Wright
Completed the Online RN-BSN Program through the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue your Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
A: I’ve always had a fervor for helping others and making a tangible difference in people’s lives, and nursing provides the perfect opportunity to do that. Pursuing a BSN has allowed me to expand my knowledge, gain new skills, take on greater responsibilities in my career as a nurse and opened endless possibilities for me to pursue advanced education.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing Online RN-BSN Program for your nursing education, and what is your favorite course from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: As an alumna of Indiana University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, I'm well acquainted with the institution. I found it fitting to continue my education through the IU Online RN-BSN program because of its excellent reputation and flexibility. As a working nurse, it was important for me to find a program that would fit into my busy schedule, and IU’s online format was the perfect fit. My favorite course was NURS-R 375: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice because it allowed me to dive deeper into how to properly conduct research and how to apply the data findings regularly in my clinical practice.
Q: What are your plans after completing your BSN at the IU School of Nursing?
A: After completing my BSN, I plan to continue working as a nurse in the critical-care setting while exploring opportunities for advanced certifications and education, such as a doctorate degree. I’m excited to continue growing in my role and taking on leadership positions within this community.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add or highlight?
A: I’d just like to express my gratitude for the amazing support I received from both the faculty and friends I've met throughout this program. Most importantly, to my mother, who is also a nurse. I aspire to one day hold a position at my alma mater, the IU School of Nursing, where I can contribute to its legacy and support the next generation of nurses!
Madison Gloyeske
Completed the Traditional BSN track at the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: I chose to pursue nursing as I grew up taking care of my grandma when she was ill and found a passion for caring for others through caring for her. This passion was furthered when I became more involved in the medical field through volunteering in the Emergency Department and working as a Patient Care Technician throughout nursing school. I found purpose in being able to go into a career where I am able to advocate for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I chose the IU School of Nursing for my education as the IU School of Nursing has many major hospitals within walking distance of the school, allowing for many different clinical experiences and opportunities. The IU School of Nursing has allowed me to have clinicals in many different settings and populations; such as in an adult and pediatric Level 1 Trauma Hospital, outpatient clinics, and several other settings.
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: After completing my studies at IU School of Nursing, I plan to work as a Registered Nurse on a Cardiac and Vascular Stepdown Unit at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: I am incredibly grateful for the amazing faculty and classmates who have helped me along the way throughout this journey and prepared me for being a nurse. Thank you for teaching me to never give up. Also, I am thankful to my family and friends for being my rock and always being there for me throughout nursing school.
TiOnna Hendricks
Completed the Accelerated BSN track at the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: Nursing has been my dream career since I was in middle school. I love the patient interactions, fast-paced environment, and the ability to learn and see so many different things.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I chose IU because before applying I heard so many great things about their nursing program, and it made it even better that it was close to home. My favorite memory would be studying abroad in Spain for a week and meeting nursing students from all over.
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: My plan after graduation is to become a critical care nurse and learn as much as possible while doing so.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: I was an accelerated BSN student after earning a prior degree in public health with a health administration concentration!
Zachary McClure
Completed the Accelerated BSN track at the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: I have worked several different jobs over the years. With my previous degree in Public Safety Management, I worked in the court reporting industry for three years: one year was working for Connor Reporting in Indianapolis and the other two years were at Orange Legal in Orlando, Florida. I spent a magical year and a half with the Walt Disney Company in security. I served all across property in Walt Disney World, but my home park was Magic Kingdom. In this role, I worked for the opening team of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (the largest park expansion in Walt Disney Parks history), as well as served in the NBA Bubble for the NBA's restart of their 2020 season. COVID-19 hit sending me and my family back home to Indiana, where I worked for Carmel Clay Schools for three years in special education and working part-time creating a role for Jameson Camp: Summer Camp Series, pioneering the role as a behavioral specialist for the camp (two summers), then the third summer started in leadership for The Waterpark in Carmel for Carmel Parks and Recreation.
All these jobs have been challenging and fun in their own ways, but I had not found something I wanted to devote a career to yet. I did some searching and scored highly in nursing. As an alumni of IUPUI, I focused my sights at the IU School of Nursing's Indianapolis campus. I discovered that I needed some prereqs completed (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, and redo my statistics course). After loving those courses, I realized this was a good fit to move forward to explore. After I started in fall 2023, I realized this was the perfect match and have loved it ever since!
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: As a previous graduate of IUPUI, I was very aware of the esteem surrounding IUSON. Also, a good friend of mine was a graduate of the program and spoke very highly of it. They went on to be an awesome nurse, so with those factors it was a no brainer to head to IUSON. Then, I found out about the accelerated program and knew it was a perfect match for me.
I could write a novel about my experience going through nursing school from patients to peers to preceptors. However, I think the memory for me that stands out would be my clinical experience at University Hospital with Sara Kitten. This was my second time passing meds with her. The patient refused to take medications with applesauce or any type of thicker liquids. They did OK until the very last pill, and it got caught in their throat. Thankfully, Sara was able to coach them through and with a little water assist averted the crisis and magic was restored. It was a small situation, but it solidified to me that I can do this job. Sara taught my health assessment didactic and lab and, in this situation, she created a clinical where I felt much more like a peer working together. It was this clinical that really locked my internal self that things are not going to always go to plan. However, I can do this and be a nurse. This entire clinical rotation will definitely stick with me throughout my career.
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I am privileged to be working day shift at Methodist in the Emergency Department.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: The IU School of Nursing has reignited something within me that has given me a new zest for life and pushed me to limits I did not think I would even be pursuing five years ago. The coursework and clinicals were demanding in ways that taught me so much that I will use in practice. However, it was the people I encountered through the journey that meant the most. As much as I could talk about memories, I could speak on the greatness of the instructors/facilitators as well. They treated you as peers and colleagues, and ultimately, as people. This is not the case everywhere. I think that is what sets the IU School of Nursing at the top level of nursing education. I am proud to call myself a graduate of IUSON.
Ruby Dowdell
Completed the Traditional BSN track at the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: Nursing is something that I never thought I would choose to pursue growing up. My father is a doctor, and my mother had been a nurse for a while. They both have always wanted me to work in the medical field, but nursing was never my thing. When I came to the United States eight years ago, my first full-time job was as a dietary aide at an assisted living facility where I got to spend some quality time taking care of the elderly residents. Many of them encouraged me to become a Registered Nurse, to which I still denied becoming one. Then the pandemic happened, and I lost my full-time job. I was still working at that assisted living facility every other weekend, but I had so much time doing pretty much nothing, and I started feeling lost. Then I realized that I needed to have something that I could call a career. Something that was stable, meaningful, and suitable so that if anything like that ever happened again, I would not have felt this desperate. A friend of mine who was in her first year of nursing school encouraged me to give nursing school a try, and I did. Choosing to pursue nursing is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I wish I had done it a lot sooner.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I learned that the nursing program at the IU School of Nursing is ranked one of the best in the country, and it made me excited to imagine how that would really help shape my knowledge and skills compared to other schools’ program. I have always set high expectations and standards for my academic performance and a more challenging environment is what I need to bring out my best self. One of my instructors from the Strategies for Success class once told us, “If you cannot be your own boss, the least you can do is to work for one of the biggest companies/organizations possible. Think big, do big, do not settle for less.” That is always one of my favorite quotes and it is one of the reasons why I chose IU School of Nursing for my nursing education.
It is difficult to tell which my favorite memory from my time at the IU School of Nursing is. Personally, I have enjoyed every moment being an IU nursing student. There were many times and many days with long hours for school workload, tasks, and responsibilities of a nursing student, but I still found my time being with IU School of Nursing one of the best times of my life. I have loved going to lectures, labs, clinical, spending time with my classmates, and everything related to nursing school. I can honestly say that my favorite memory from my time at the IU School of Nursing is the fact that I am an IU Nursing student itself.
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I have been accepted to the Nursing Residency Program at the VA hospital, and I am very excited for its start in January. As far as long-term goals are concerned, I would like to become either a nurse practitioner or a nurse educator if possible.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: I first applied for the nursing program that would start in August 2021. I did not get in the program, and I felt very upset. Many nurses that I work with advised me to apply to other nursing schools, then complete my BSN later. I did apply to another college; I had my transcript sent to them and started working with one of their advisors regarding scholarships, tuition, and courses. To be honest, I was not fond of how things worked.
At that point, I had been at IU Indianapolis for a little more than a year finishing all my prerequisites. I was so used to the way things worked at IU and how I could navigate to get what I needed. One day, I had to drive downtown for an appointment, and I certainly took the same way as I used to drive to school. When I was approaching one of IU buildings, all of a sudden, my heart sank. I missed being a part of IU, and I missed telling people that I was an IU student. I was emotional and overwhelmed by the thought that I needed to decide quickly whether I would just go ahead and continue with the other college or wait to apply again for IU School of Nursing next semester. Then, I came to realize that I wanted to be with what my heart and my mind had set me for.
I have been proud of myself for being patient and doing the right thing at the right time and not settling for less than what I deserve. Now that I am a graduate of the IU School of Nursing, I would love to tell everyone that, “She believed she could, so she did.”
Benjamin Starkey
Completed the Traditional BSN track at the Indianapolis campus
Q: Why did you choose to pursue nursing?
A: I have always had an interest in healthcare since I was a little child. I used to play with medical equipment and play around with my family as a doctor. As I grew up, I thought about pursuing a career in business and accounting but sitting at a desk most days did not feel fulfilling to me. By the end of my sophomore year of high school I decided that nursing would be the path I would choose as I wanted to have more direct care with patients which I did not see that I would get a physician. I went to Central Nine Career Center and decided to get my certificate in medical assisting while attending high school. During this time, I also started volunteering in the hospital at Franciscan Health Mooresville in the ICU. I developed a great love for ICU patients and being with patients at difficult moments in their lives. All of this led to me deciding to go to IU for nursing.
Q: Why did you choose the IU School of Nursing for your nursing education, and what is your favorite memory from your time at the IU School of Nursing?
A: I chose the IU School of Nursing, specifically the IU Indianapolis location, because of the accessibility to clinical locations. I knew that being downtown I would get access to more hospitals than I would elsewhere or another nursing school. I also loved how inexpensive IU Indianapolis costs compared to other universities. I am so glad that I made this decision because I was able to get in and learn so much and work in a neighboring hospital to get personal experience as a patient care tech.
Some of my favorite memories in nursing school were with the friends I have made over the years. I made several close connections and hope that we stay connected for the entirety of our careers.
Q: What are your plans after completing your studies at the IU School of Nursing?
A: Now that I have completed my studies with IUSON, I plan on working at Eskenazi in the Intermediate Intensive Care Unit which I start in January. I am really looking forward to starting in an ICU, and Eskenazi was a very attractive location for me due to their flexibility, great culture, and high morale on the unit. Everybody seems to enjoy working there and learning from each other which I think makes a great learning experience during my first year as a nurse.
I also plan on going back to school in the next few years. As much as I love nursing, during my time in nursing school I really started focusing on my Catholic faith. I was not raised Catholic as a child but converted around the same time I started my nursing studies. As I started discerning my vocation, I began to feel a call to the priesthood. I plan on attending St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in the next year if I'm accepted and sponsored by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
If I am not accepted, then I will continue to work as a nurse at Eskenazi and gain experience as an RN. I have a strong interest in being a nurse for the Army and would possibly explore this and attend the Army's CRNA school.
Either way, I plan on using the experience I gained at Methodist, IUSON, and Eskenazi to care for others to some degree. I love nursing and will always be a nurse at heart.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: If I could give advice to any person considering a career in nursing or just started nursing school, I would say to stay open. At the beginning I was 100% set on working in Cardiac ICU and knew the hospital I wanted to work at, but as I continued my studies, I decided I wanted to start in Medical ICU instead. I still love Cardiac ICU, but it's not where I wanted to start my nursing career.
It is good to have goals and reminders of why I am going through nursing school but be open to changes as they come up. I think this allows for a lot of personal growth and is a reason to keep going. I have heard so many people that wanted to start in labor and delivery or NICU and realized they hated working with kids and are starting on an adult med-surg unit.
I also recommend working as a tech but not letting that be your prime focus. Some of us have bills to pay and I get that, but don't make work first and school second if you can. I learned that working too much and going to school and clinical led to a little bit of burnout in my first year, but that passed once I began working less and started allowing myself to enjoy life. Allowing myself to take breaks for the gym, cooking, hunting, fishing, hiking, and other hobbies I enjoy really helped my focus when I was at school or studying.