After her last child departed for college, Elizabeth Machens decided to turn her attention toward her own college aspirations. At first, she was somewhat apprehensive about her decision to attend St. Louis Community College.
“I was terrified,” she admits. “I hadn’t been in school for 28 years. But the staff was always really nice and encouraging.”
Machens initially took developmental-level classes in English, math and reading to become more college-ready. She followed a prescribed course of academics for two years to complete the prerequisites for admission into the nursing program at Florissant Valley. In May 2012, Machens became a college graduate, and subsequently passed the state nursing board exam.
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“I wanted the most direct route to becoming a nurse,” Machens said. “I also wanted to be successful and academically ready to take the boards. I knew that if I could pass an intense program that I would be successful (on the exam).”
Machens, a registered nurse, now works on the post-surgery floor at Christian Hospital Northeast. She has been employed at Christian Northeast since 2010, first as a unit secretary and then student nurse technician.
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“I thought St. Louis Community College’s nursing program was well rounded and covered all aspects of nursing through the lectures, clinical instruction within a variety of healthcare facilities, and hands-on practical skills training,” she said. “Plus, I looked at other schools and programs, but I could not validate spending a large amount of money on an education when I could get the same, if not better, education for a fraction of the cost.”
Discover if nursing is the right career for you. St. Louis Community College is hosting a nursing information session 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in the lobby of the Emerson Center for Engineering and Manufacturing on the Florissant Valley campus, 3400 Pershall Road.
Prospective students will:
- Learn about academic requirements and career options for registered nurses.
- Hear from current students about their experiences in the program.
- Participate in interactive sessions.
- Find out how to get started at STLCC.
Registration is requested; call 314-539-5002 or visit www.stlcc.edu/CareerInfoSessions. For more information, call 314-539-5002 or e-mail AskUs@stlcc.edu. Individuals with disabilities who have accommodation needs should call 314-539-5002.
Established in 1962, St. Louis Community College is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. STLCC has four campuses – Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Meramec and Wildwood – and annually serves more than 81,000 students through credit courses, continuing education and workforce development programs. For more information about STLCC, visit www.stlcc.edu.