We’re excited to welcome Susie Woodford as one of our new nursing student bloggers! Read on to learn more about Susie, her professional experience and why she chose American College of Education for her RN to MSN degree.
ACE: Welcome! Tell us a little about yourself.
Susie Woodford: I’m a registered nurse living in San Jose, California, with my husband and youngest child, who’s In college. I have an associate’s degree in nursing through De Anza Community College and have just completed the bachelor’s in nursing portion of ACE’s RN to MSN degree. For the master’s degree, I have a concentration in nurse administration.
ACE: Tell us about your professional journey. Where has your career taken you so far?
SW: Immediately after I graduated nursing school, I worked at a small, 25-bed hospital in the Sierra Foothills called Tuolumne General Hospital. It was a wonderful experience as my first job. I have also worked at the American Red Cross, where I traveled around the county as a phlebotomy nurse. For the last 10 years I have worked at a dermatology clinic. Each place of employment has been very different from the others, and I have enjoyed the variety of challenges and experiences I have received from each of them.
ACE: What drew you to nursing? Why did you become a nurse?
SW: I was drawn to nursing because I wanted to help people. When I was very young, I hated seeing someone injured or hurting and not knowing how to help them. I wanted to make a difference in my community and the world around me. There was no question that I would enter the healthcare field, but nursing was the right fit for me because I get to offer direct hands-on patient care. The profession of nursing is all about caring and helping people, and that is what I wanted to do.
ACE: Why did you choose ACE?
SW: I chose ACE because the nursing program seemed sensible and do-able. I liked that the classes were 5 or 10 weeks long and that they ran year-round. The college is well-functioning and organized, which instills confidence in me. I have not been disappointed!
