Stories: Lisa Price, RN – Dallas College

“I was in the health insurance business for 20 years but got laid off after Sept. 11, 2001. I was tired of what I was doing anyway and wanted to look for something different. Then my husband got sick, and I was really impressed by the nurses who took care of him. I thought, if I could go home from work for just one day having made a positive impact on people the way his nurses had an impact on me, I would have done my job.

“I decided to go back to school. A Dallas College campus was right across the street from my house, so I took the entrance exams for the Associate Degree Nursing program there.

“My nursing education was excellent: tough, thorough and challenging. By the time I took my board exams, I felt completely confident and ready. I felt as prepared as many of my colleagues who had graduated from four-year university nursing programs.

“This program is accelerated, and there is nothing easy about it. I didn’t expect it to be easy; if it had been, it wouldn’t have prepared me for real work as a nurse. But my education provided me with everything I needed for a nursing career in just 16 months.

“The most important thing I learned — besides learning how to take care of people — is that I could go back to school at age 45 and actually accomplish something. This is my first college degree, and I proved to myself that I could do it.

“I really want to remain in patient care as a nurse, but if I ever do want a different career, I could go back into the health insurance business with my nursing degree and have a lot of job options.

“I recommend this program to others. I checked out several programs before I started, and this beats the other hands-down.”

Lisa Price earned an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Nursing in December 2006. As a registered nurse in Baylor-Irving Hospital’s Progressive Care Unit, she cares for patients too sick for a regular floor but not critical enough for the intensive care unit. She was offered the position after completing her ADN program’s final clinical rotation there. Day-to-day duties include taking care of patients, giving medications, charting, interpreting lab values and dealing with patients’ families.

Myriah Stevens

Radiologic Technologist Parkland Memorial Hospital of Dallas

“When a patient who is in pain, upset or nervous tells you that you made them feel better or just simply tells you 'thank you' with a smile, it makes your hard work worth it. That is the reason I am in this field, and that is what will keep me in it forever.”

Radiologic Sciences

Kristy Sweeney, RDCS

Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, UT Southwestern University Hospitals, and Adjunct Faculty, El Centro Diagnostic Medical Sonography

“My experience at El Centro was wonderful. The program included online classes plus clinicals three or four days a week. We had the flexibility to do our homework at our own convenience, either doing a little every night or doing it all over the weekend, whatever worked best for us.”

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Sarah Taylor, A.A.S. (ADN), RN

Registered Nurse, Adult Oncology Unit Medical City Dallas

“The best part of my education was the nursing staff. They are just so caring and supportive. They’re there to make sure you get all of the help and support you need. The most important thing I learned is that you’re never too old to set a goal and achieve it.”

Nursing

Shawn Terry, B.A., RRT, RCP

Respiratory Care Practitioner, Parkland Health and Hospital System Adjunct Faculty, El Centro Respiratory Care Program

“Respiratory therapists are not just technicians trained to deliver treatments and therapies with different types of equipment. We have to truly comprehend a wide range of topics and how they relate to a patient’s condition.”

Respiratory Care Program

Lisa Price, RN
Registered Nurse Baylor-Irving Hospital Progressive Care Unit

Nursing
School of Health Sciences

Lisa Price, RN

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Myriah Stevens

Kristy Sweeney, RDCS

Sarah Taylor, A.A.S. (ADN), RN

Shawn Terry, B.A., RRT, RCP