Posted: 5/8/2008
Before Shaun Robinson enrolled in the Practical Nursing program at Brown Mackie College - South Bend in 2005, he was a journeyman of sorts. He worked as an EMT for two years, helped school children with disabilities at an elementary school, was employed at a Subway restaurant, and also in construction. Of course, none of that includes the time he spends helping his grandparents on their farm every year.
Needless to say, Shaun, who recently passed the Indiana State Boards to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), has never been short on work.
For the last eight months, Shaun has been a charge nurse with American Senior Communities at Riverside Village. He often helps with the Skilled Unit, which provides care for those recovering from strokes, heart attacks and other disabilities related to aging. And most recently, he was awarded the Employee of the Year honor, something that is not surprising considering the success Shaun experienced while in school.
However, things did not always come this easily. Before enrolling at Brown Mackie College - South Bend, Shaun worked a variety of jobs and, in his own words, "was ready for a change." Brown Mackie College offers month-to-month classes, and was close enough to Shaun's home that he could continue to work and successfully balance his personal, professional and academic goals. He credits instructors like Destiny Campbell, Nancy DeRosa and Sandra Wysocki with providing a column of support that allowed him to excel. In fact, Shaun recalls that, "when times at school became rough, it was amazing to see how your classmates and instructors came together." Shaun also managed to find enough time between his studies and his job to help out with a volleyball team in nearby Walkerton, Indiana.
Prior to Shaun's graduation in 2006 from Brown Mackie College - South Bend with a degree in Practical Nursing, he found himself searching. "I was trying to find a job that I enjoyed and wanted to do for the rest of my life." And after nearly a year at Riverside Village, Shaun says, "I enjoy what I am doing," and because of his training at Brown Mackie College, "I feel that I can do my job successfully," something he's proving sooner rather than later.
Personal Attention, Professional Growth
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