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College Success Stories
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Dave's Story Dave Jones, who grew up in
New York City, became an LPN 18 years ago after seeing the
compassionate and competent care given to his young daughter while
she was fighting a losing battle with cancer. And it made him
appreciate the difference quality care—and caring—can make in lives
of patients and their families, even at the most difficult times. So when Jones moved to York County two years ago to care for his aging parents, he saw it as a perfect time to make another transition, to upgrade his skills and training to become an RN. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, and he was determined to overcome the challenges that he was sure to encounter: the challenge of balancing work and school, the challenge of going back into the classroom after nearly two decades away, and the challenge of what is—under any circumstances—a difficult course of study. What he didn’t expect was the difficulty he would encounter in just getting into a nursing program, especially for someone with a good academic background and such strong on-the-floor nursing experience. “One of the first things I was told is that there was a three-year waiting list just to get in,” Jones said. “And that’s not only here at York Tech, it’s true everywhere.” Jones said he just couldn’t understand how it was possible that so many qualified applicants were being turned away, or being put on hold, while hospitals and other healthcare providers seemed desperate for nurses. “I just didn’t make any sense to me,” he said. “But I was pretty determined to make this happen.” Jones, at age 42 and with the encouragement of nursing instructor Jane Fleischer, began taking his prerequisite courses at York Tech in anticipation of something good happening, something that could reduce that long wait for getting into the program. “It was a bit of a leap of faith,” he said. “But I was motivated to make this happen and to make it happen now. Waiting three years may have killed that motivation—I had already postponed furthering my education this long.” Jones found that his years of LPN experience were indeed valuable in his coursework and that he had not, despite his fears, forgotten how to study or how to succeed in the classroom, even in the math courses he worried so much about. He was making progress toward his goal, all the while continuing his work at a Rock Hill nursing home. But there was no guarantee he would get into the nursing program anytime soon. However, good news was on the way. Earlier this year, when the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education’s healthcare funding initiative was approved, it meant that York Technical College was able to open 26 new slots in the second year of its associate degree nursing program. Many of those positions went to graduates of the college’s one-year practical nursing program. But one of them went to Dave Jones. “I was thrilled when I heard,” Jones said. “And I’m working to make the most of this opportunity because I realize that there are many others out there who would love to be in my position right now.” “The work ethic and determination that Dave has shown in the classroom and in just getting into the program will serve him well as a nurse,” Fleischer said. Since his nursing studies began in earnest this fall, Jones’ life has been a blur of classes, studying, working 12-hour shifts at his nursing home job and equally long shifts of clinical rotation at Springs Memorial Hospital in Lancaster. It’s exhausting for him at times, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I am exactly where I want to be,” he said. Because of his age and years of work experience, Jones may not be the typical student, but that has its advantages and disadvantages. He said he has to work a little harder that the young people around him to absorb a classroom lecture or the pages of a textbook , but his experience gives him a distinct advantage when it come to “time on the floor.” “I understand that nursing is taking care of people, being responsible for them,” he said. “It’s a tough job that can be very physical at times. But I love it and wouldn’t want to do anything else. Jones will graduate in May
and begin a new chapter of his life. He’s not yet sure what area of
nursing he will focus on or where he will work, but with the current
demand for nurses, the possibilities are almost limitless. He is
sure he will be staying in the area where he now feels very much at
home and where he knows he is needed. |
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