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Ameritech Nursing Graduate Takes Flight

Having watched both her mother and grandmother pursue successful nursing careers, it was no surprise that Jennifer Dunford-Shealy (Class of 2013) chose to follow in their footsteps by pursuing her Associate of Science in Nursing degree at Ameritech.

However, unlike the generations of women before her, Jennifer has carved out her own unique career path—putting her Ameritech nursing training into practice at 30,000 feet as an airmed nurse. For her, a day on the job means flying into and out of remote locations in airplanes and helicopters to move or recover isolated patients. According to Jennifer: "It's fascinating! And humbling. Every single day."

Jennifer credits her success to the quality of the instructors and nursing education that she received at Ameritech, noting that: "The instructors are all really good! There was one in particular who was very tough, but she was great. The quality of the education on a fast-track program was much higher than what I found in other, similar programs."

Find out how Ameritech's higher quality nursing education empowered Jennifer to take her RN career to remarkable, new heights.

Putting Her Nursing Skills to the Test

Before she even had the chance to walk across the stage during her graduation ceremony, Edie Nguyen (Class of 2018) had her nursing skills put to the test in the most unusual of circumstances—at 35,000 feet in the air.

While flying home just 6 days after completing Ameritech's nursing program, Edie volunteered to help a fellow passenger who lost consciousness during the flight. She helped the passenger regain consciousness and sat with her for the remainder of the flight, monitoring her condition and keeping her awake. Edie credits Ameritech's ASN program with giving her confidence to step forward and volunteer to help in a difficult situation:

"Ameritech’s nursing program is an elite program that has provided me with lifesaving skills. I’ve always been inspired to do something bigger than myself and for me, it was becoming a nurse and serving others in my community. I wanted to go a school where the teachers were actual nurses who could teach me the skills they’ve learned in the field, so I could apply that knowledge in and outside of the classroom. Where you go for your education matters and Ameritech has set the bar high and exceeded high standards for their students and faculty. I am honored to be an alumni."

Showing Nursing Leadership in an American Tragedy

From graduating from Ameritech's nursing program to working as a traveling operating room nurse, Michelle Wall (Class of 2012) believes that everything she'd learned in her studies and career thus far were preparing her for one night: the tragic Las Vegas shooting on October 1, 2017.

During the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, Michelle was working as the Charge Nurse of the O.R. at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas—Nevada’s largest hospital and trauma center. That night, Michelle ran ten operating rooms for twelve hours straight, directing staff and surgeons, caring for countless patients, and ensuring a steady stream of necessary supplies.

She recalls: "The decisions I had to make moment-to-moment would ultimately affect the life or death of these patients. I remember thinking 'You can do this! You already have the tools you need.' Every assignment and experience I had prior to Las Vegas prepared me for taking on that role."

Michelle credits Ameritech with providing her with a solid foundation for her nursing career: "The education I received from Ameritech's nursing program prepared me with the tools and skills needed to be a competent, confident nurse. I am so grateful for the program and feel honored and proud to be an Ameritech graduate."