April 21, 2022
Graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing this spring, Jana Stockham, a senior from Stockdale, Ohio, is looking forward to starting her nursing career after graduation. She has accepted a position at King’s Daughters Medical Center for an ICU Critical Care Fellowship.
“I am really looking forward to starting my life as a nurse after graduation,” she said. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to work close to home.”
Stockham first found her way to SSU after researching schools that were close to her hometown. She was grateful that campus was close enough for her to commute to so she could save on her cost of living while in college.
“Campus was only about thirty minutes from my house, and that ultimately played a huge role in my decision to study here,” she said. “I also loved that I could be in smaller classes with a more hands-on experience in the nursing program.”
Inspired by nurses that cared for her family members throughout her life, Stockham decided she wanted to study nursing. She knew she wanted to make a difference in patient care.
“Growing up, I had to watch a lot of my older family members be cared for in the hospital,” she said. “It was tough, but the way the nurses cared for them inspired and reassured me. I knew I had to be just like them and care for other people’s loved ones.”
Despite being a commuter, Stockham found ways to connect with her peers throughout her educational career at SSU.
“I made so many friends in my classes,” she said. “I loved going to the library to study with everyone throughout the years. We had lots of laughs and even hard days, but we were always together.”
For students wanting to study nursing, Stockham encourages them to stay motivated throughout their education.
“Don’t get me wrong, nursing will have its hard days,” she said. “But it’s just like everything else in life. You have to think of the bigger picture. All the hard work will be worth it when you’re working with your patients.”
The SSU Department of Nursing offers a range of opportunities for students just beginning their nursing educational journey to licensed nurses seeking high quality educational opportunities. The department offers Associate Degree in Nursing programs, including an LPN-RN Pathway, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, including an online RN-BSN Pathway.
To learn more about Nursing at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/nursing.