Our first USC Union Nursing Cohort is already doing great things. All six nursing graduates from the class of 2023 passed the NCLEX (Nursing Council Licensure Examination) and have found nursing jobs, some going to work in their hometowns. Meet a few of our nursing school graduates and learn how USC Union helped them on their path to success.
Makenzie Grady Edwards from Union is now a registered nurse at Union Medical Center, specializing in medical telemetry. She says that she was inspired to become a nurse because she wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. “[I want to] be the nurse that they remember positively impacted their most vulnerable time,” she said. During her time at USC Union, she was involved in SGA and Research Club, and was also part of the Dean search committee. Though she says that navigating the new nursing program was challenging at times, she enjoyed making memories with her classmates. “Staying organized is key to being successful in nursing school,” she said, when asked what advice she would give to current students. “Try not to procrastinate.”
Brianna Gooch [Fish] is now working in the medical intensive care unit at a hospital in her hometown of York. She says that her mother, who was also a nurse, inspired her to enter the program at USC Union. While she was a student, she was captain of the Rifle Team, and won several medals in air rifle shooting competitions. She says that the nursing program offered her many valuable learning opportunities and advises current students to stay caught up in their studies by reading the textbook.
Grace Lee from Pauline is a registered nurse in the NICU at Spartanburg Medical Center. Her mother is also a nurse, and she says that she was inspired to follow in her footsteps because she wanted the opportunity to help others. “I want to be a safe place and advocate for all of my patients,” she said. She says that the fast-paced environment and technology in the nursing program were challenging at first, but that it taught her to face difficulties head on and adapt quickly. “My classmates were what made my time in the nursing program the best,” she said. “Their humor and support made time fly. Seeing everyone grow as a nurse…was amazing.” Lee played on the softball team during her time at USC Union. Her advice to current nursing students is that they should use their time wisely. “Allocate your time to succeed in your courses and profession, but don’t forget about the people around you,” she said. “You can spend time on things other than school.”
Lee says that her nursing instructors, Lynn Edwards and Courtney Pinell, along with the rest of her professors at USC Union helped her grow as a student and as a professional. “I never had a professor who didn’t go out of their way to make my college experience wonderful,” she said. “They taught me to be kind, courteous, and gave me the confidence to be and amazing person and nurse.”
Through our partnership with USC Aiken, students can now receive a USC Aiken Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while completing courses here at the Union campus. “USC Union faculty is aware of the needs of rural populations. Now, because students have the advantage of a nursing school on campus, we can encourage the students to give back to their home communities,” said Lynn Edwards, Nurse Administrator at USC Union. She reports that 66% of USC Union nursing graduates have gone on to work in their hometowns, with many serving as “key healthcare team members” at Union Medical Center. “I feel a sense of pride knowing that I am a small part of the USC Union nursing program and that this program helps students understand rural culture and will help meet the needs of rural families,” she said.
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