The World Health Organization declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife and it is difficult to imagine a more appropriate designation. Without a doubt, COVID-19 has brought the nursing profession into the spotlight and shown the work nurses perform every day caring for their patients is absolutely essential to society.
Training to become a nurse has been a career goal for many people, even prior to the COVID-19 crisis. Nurses can work in virtually every type of healthcare facility from hospitals to physicians’ offices, from clinics to schools and more. They can work directly with patients, or even work as tele-health providers. Additionally, nurses have the opportunity to advance their careers through the pursuit of additional training and specialization in pediatrics, oncology, psychiatry and more.
Nursing school is a significant undertaking in the best of times, but can you imagine being in the final stages of your nursing education during the spring of 2020 when the pandemic was hitting new heights every day?
That is just the situation that Fortis nursing graduate Rebekah Tasker had to navigate earlier this year. The final seven months of her program were significantly impacted by COVID-19. Tasker graduated in September 2020 with an associate degree in nursing.
“When I started my clinicals at the beginning of the year, everything was normal,” says Tasker. “Right at the end of the term, things started to shut down.” Starting a job on the frontlines during the pandemic might make some people rethink their decision to go into nursing, but this wasn’t the case for Tasker.
“There were risks even before COVID,” she says. “Every time you go to work, you could be in a position to encounter other infectious diseases or potential problems. It’s part of what you have set out to do. All you can do is take precautions and do everything right.”
Tasker has found her calling and once she’s gets her license, she plans to work at a long-term nursing care facility and post-acute rehabilitation center. “It’s where I started,” she says. “That’s where I’m happiest. I enjoy what I do there for residents. They’ve lived their lives and it’s an honor to be there for them during this time.”
Bruce Smith, president of Fortis Cutler Bay is proud of how his staff and faculty have risen to meet the challenges presented by the pandemic and says, “Our priority is to keep our students focused on their goals by providing them with the best educational experience possible in a safe environment.”Have you been thinking about training to become a nurse? Are you looking for a school nearby, with small classes and caring and experienced faculty? If so, then take a good look at FORTIS College in Cutler Bay, FL. The Associate Degree in Nursing program at FORTIS College will prepare you for an entry-level career in nursing. Upon completion of the ADN program at FORTIS, you will be prepared to sit for your licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment prospects for RNs are expected to be excellent nationally over the next decade. With a FORTIS nursing degree, you can be ready to one day join the 2.6 million Americans who work as registered nurses!
Since 2011, FORTIS College in Cutler Bay has provided career education and training to people in south Florida and the greater Miami area. FORTIS offers programs in nursing and medical assisting to both traditional and nontraditional students to help them reach their professional career goals. It is never too late to get started on your dream of becoming a nurse.
