Jennifer Nemitz enjoyed working as a medical receptionist. Later, she became a certified nursing assistant. But she realized she wanted and needed more.
“I needed to level up,” she said. “I have a son, and I wanted to be able to provide more for him and not work multiple jobs. The next step was to become a nurse.”
Jennifer enrolled at the College of Saint Mary after family members, including her cousin, a CSM nursing alumna, suggested it. CSM is renowned in the region for producing nurses who are highly respected, skilled and compassionate.
As a nontraditional student, Jennifer, 44, thought she might seem out of place. “But all of the professors were supportive,” she said. “They always answered questions. I’m one of those in class who is constantly asking questions because that’s how I learn.”
Her classmates, who were more than half her age, also accepted her.
“I never felt out of place with the other students,” Jennifer said. “I tried to get to know them, meeting them where they were. They never treated me any differently.”
During her first year of college, Jennifer didn’t stay on campus after her classes. “When I started my nursing classes, the other students would invite me to lunch, and I would eat in the cafeteria with them,” she said. “We really started bonding, and it blossomed.”
At CSM, Jennifer found a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.
“We’re a small enough school that we feel like a family. You really get to know each other and rely on each other throughout the process,” she said. “I like the feel of the campus. It’s not like a bigger campus where you might get lost. The professors really do know your name.”
Jennifer will officially graduate on July 13 following a pinning ceremony. She completed her preceptorship on the med-surge floor at CHI Health Immanuel Hospital in Omaha and worked as a student nurse tech in the float pool at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy. While Jennifer has not yet decided where she wants to work, she knows she has options.
“I want a place that will help me grow and nurture me,” she said.
