NPC Nursing alumnus Rani Simpson graduated in 2016. She entered college as a 26 year-old,
non-traditional student. She began in the one-year Practical Nursing (LPN) program
and then completed the two-year Registered Nursing (RN) degree through the LPN to
RN Bridge program. After completing the LPN program, she began working as a night
charge nurse in a nursing home. She spent three years as an RN in the Intensive Care
Unit (ICU) at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs and has recently taken a role as a travel
nurse.
Simpson was inspired to choose nursing because of her grandmother’s experience in
hospice care when she was a young child. “I remember watching the nurses care for
her and just being in that facility, and I knew that was something I wanted to do.
I have always liked taking care of people and helping people, and I knew that I wanted
to do something in medicine. It wasn’t until I was into my high school years that
I realized I wanted to be a nurse.”
Nursing program admission is very competitive. Simpson said she encourages anyone
struggling to get into a nursing program to be open to alternative paths, like the
LPN to RN Bridge program. “Don’t give up. I tried different avenues, different programs
and I never got in.” She said a counselor encouraged her to keep trying and informed
her of the LPN to RN Bridge program. She added that there are “many roles in nursing
and many positions throughout the healthcare system where nurses of all ages could
thrive. I work with nurses 30 years older than myself in the ICU. Don't let age scare
you away from following your dreams.”
“Both experiences were life changing. The instructors helped me tremendously. I never
felt like I couldn’t go talk to anyone if I needed help. I felt like they could pinpoint
if you were struggling or if you needed something and they would come to you and see
if you needed extra help. I would recommend this program to anyone,” said Simpson.
