Laureen S., MSN ’23, first discovered her passion for nursing while watching the popular TV series “M*A*S*H.”
“It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do,” Laureen shared. “I loved the physical sciences and wanted to be a surgical nurse like Margaret Houlihan.”
After high school, Laureen attended college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1987. Her subsequent 37-year career spanned numerous technological advancements, a global pandemic, and multiple nursing specialties.
Laureen’s first job was in the medical oncology unit, where poor nurse-to-patient ratios and grueling night shifts made her question her career choice. She then moved to the step-down unit of the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), where she discovered her calling in cardiac care and patient education.
Her career continued as she worked in the ICU, home health care, and the adult critical care unit’s flow pool. Eventually, she transitioned to the NICU, where she found her true passion for neonatal care and spent 20 fulfilling years.
“My mom had always wanted me to be a pediatric nurse and I never had any interest, let alone in babies,” Laureen recalled.
Laureen went on to work at West Coast University – Ontario as a pediatric clinical instructor, where she has taught for the past seven years. Her time at WCU has been marked with new opportunities and experiences in nursing.
After teaching for nearly five years, Loreen was informed that her role now required a master’s degree.
“I was 56 years old at the time and didn’t want to go back to school. I hadn’t been a student since 1987,” she said.
Several months later, Laureen learned that she qualified for a grant to cover the cost of the program. As a result, she was able to start the WCU MSN online program in Nursing Education in January 2022 and conclude in December 2023, graduating at the top of her class and earning a nomination into Sigma Theta Tau. She also won the Daisy Award in October 2023.
One of Laureen’s greatest outcomes from her master’s program was her introduction to the simulation center.
Laureen quickly fell in love with simulations and in January, she transferred from the nursing department to the simulations department. In the fall, Laureen will begin as the newest pediatric simulation instructor at WCU.
“I never thought I needed or wanted a master’s degree, but now, because I have it, I am a simulation instructor.”
Laureen is excited about her future and remains dedicated to teaching and helping the next generation of nurses thrive.
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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