Lauren Clark, RN-ASN, works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia where she is helping care for the tiniest patients during this national pandemic. As a Wiregrass graduate, she appreciates the instruction she received during nursing school that has prepared her for this journey.
Valdosta, GA – We have been hearing of stories about essential workers, like nurses and those in manufacturing careers, like welders, who have risen to the occasion during our national pandemic. Here’s a look at how Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and clinical sites, including South Georgia Medical Center, prepared one student for the task.
Lauren Clark of Valdosta, knew even as a little girl she wanted to become a nurse, and honestly didn’t see herself being anything else. After graduating from Victory Christian School in Valdosta, Lauren enrolled at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and began work on her core classes for Allied Health. At the time she enrolled at Wiregrass, her plans were to complete her core and then apply to another college to pursue her Associate of Science of Nursing (RN). Lauren’s college transfer plans changed when she learned that Wiregrass would be offering an Associate of Science in Nursing Degree just at the perfect time. “I heard about the Wiregrass nursing program that was starting the semester after I finished my core, and decided to try it since it was closer to home,” shared Lauren. “I’m so glad I did. I also wanted an ASN degree, as opposed to BSN, initially because I knew that an ASN was more hands-on experience and that would be priceless going into my field.”
Lauren credits her instructors at Wiregrass for preparing her for her job as a nurse at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. Hall County is ranked fifth in Georgia for highest cases of coronavirus virus. “I could not have made it through without the instructors,” Lauren added. They were tough because they cared and wanted us to be safe and competent nurses when we entered the nursing field. In clinical rotations they were always seeking out something for us to do, or help with, because they knew that was the best way for us to learn. And, it paid off in the end.” Lauren shared that while being in nursing school is hard, and being a nurse is hard, the rewards of knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life is worth it. “You will have some of your best and worst days as a nurse, but every bit of it is worth it. From seeing a one-pound preemie go home after months in the NICU, to holding a mother’s hand and crying with her as she holds her baby for the first and last time. It is truly an honor to be there for people during the best and worst times of their life,” added Lauren.
Her life has changed since graduating from Wiregrass Tech back in 2015. Since then, she has married and moved to Gainesville, and now has a five-month-old baby girl that is the light of their life. Lauren shared, “I am thankful to be a Wiregrass ASN graduate and taking care of the tiniest patients during this time!”
If you are interested in becoming a hero by entering the Health Care field or others, Wiregrass is accepting new students for Fall Semester. Classes will begin August 18. The week of June 15-18 the college will host a Free Application Week. Those who apply online will have their application fee waived. There are also funds available for displaced workers to attend college through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). The WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market, and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete.
WIOA offers financial support services with items such as tuition, books, uniforms, immunization and other required program costs specific to your chosen program. Programs covered under WIOA are specific to each Georgia region and can be access by visiting www.worksourcegaportal.com and search for Wiregrass under Training Providers. The WIOA has recently received state funds to help provide opportunity for more displaced workers to return to college. For more information about Summer Express, or to apply, please visit www.wiregrass.edu.
