Lea Murphy, Practical Nursing Program Honors Grad from Blue Hills Regional in Canton, Finds Success in the Healthcare Field

By Judy Bass

Like so many people working for one company for many years, Lea Murphy never expected to be laid off, but unfortunately, that fate befell her two and a half years ago.  That reversal would actually prove to be a boon, eventually landing her in the Practical Nursing program at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, a move she credits for the abundant professional success she enjoys today.

Murphy, 55, a married mother of two (her son, Nick, is a Blue Hills junior studying Electrical), was a medical underwriter at the same company for nearly three decades.  When she got her pink slip in October 2010, she says that she never saw it coming.  Reeling, Murphy quickly gathered herself and began to chart a whole new course.

She went to the American Red Cross and earned her credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant to become a nurse’s aide.  (Murphy had had previous jobs in the medical field, and her aunt and sister were both nurses.)   Nevertheless, she sought a higher-level position, so while still on unemployment, she happened upon the Blue Hills web site and saw the information there on their Practical Nursing program, a 10-month full-time daytime program for adults that has an outstanding reputation for producing superbly-trained men and women ready for jobs in the healthcare field.

The Blue Hills program had many features that appealed to Murphy.  She could commute there every day with her son; she was aware of the remarkable caliber of nurses who graduated from the program; and she also heard about the Practical Nursing teachers and their dedication to every student.

“I do love those ladies,” she gushed.  “They work with you so you can get through it,” Murphy remarked, noting the difficulty of the program, the large amount of challenging material it covers in a relatively brief time, and the rigors of a career in nursing.

She mentioned the instructors’ knack for translating intricate medical or anatomical concepts into language that is easily understood, such as likening human cells, with all their intricate functions, to a factory.  Murphy praised the way the program helped her dust off her long-unused study skills as well.

Murphy graduated in June 2012 with honors, earning the Blue Hills Alumni Award for her dedication, motivation and unflagging support of her classmates.

“Lea was a mature, caring, bright and motivated student who was a pleasure to have in class,” said Maureen McCann, MS, RN, Chairperson of Blue Hills’ Practical Nursing program. “Her progress in our program was built on her many life experiences as she acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes to enter nursing and continue on to a Registered Nursing program.”

Today, she is excited about working on her RN credentials at Massasoit Community College and she is a nurse at Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI) in Hanson, a human services organization that offers HIV programs, brain injury services, mental health programs, and more at various sites.

Murphy realizes the challenge in store for those who take the Practical Nursing program and must work at the same time (she was not in that situation.)  Still, she philosophically said, “If you want this [opportunity], you make it work.”  As for the program, Murphy is emphatic in her gratitude and admiration: “I couldn’t say enough good things about it.”

The Practical Nursing Program at Blue Hills Regional (Postsecondary Programs Division) offers a rigorous educational experience of theory and clinical practice which will prepare graduates to take the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nursing) through the State Board of Registration in Nursing.  The faculty provides an exceptional learning environment and the support services needed to help students succeed.  For more information on the program, such as Admissions and Tuition, visit www.bluehills.org and click on the Practical Nursing tab on the home page.