POTSDAM, NY – Four motivated and focused women made up the first graduating class from the Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing recently.
Megan Cardinell, Mary Sue Foster, Chelsea McBain, and Alexis Sprankle spent the last 10 months attending the school located in The Quarry building on Elm Street in Potsdam, and have earned their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degrees. The LPN school is operated through the efforts of St. Lawrence Health (SLH) and its parent system, Rochester Regional Health.
St. Lawrence Health and Canton-Potsdam Hospital President Donna McGregor addressed the students during their graduation ceremony and told them how proud she and the whole of SLH are of them.
“Your commitment to return to school to further your career understandably came with some compromises, but it also came with support, encouragement, and love from your family and friends,” she said.
“It’s not every occupation where you make a difference in someone else’s life on a daily basis. Nursing is more than a career title, it is a combination of your education, training, and inner being. It is also a line of work where you never stop learning,” Ms. McGregor added.
Choosing the IGH School of Nursing
The graduates are excited and honored to be among the first class of the nursing school, and gave accolades to their teachers and administrators for bringing the school to Potsdam.
“I am very honored to be part of making history; I believe our class has set examples and expectations for future nurses,” Ms. Foster said. “I am appreciative of all the administration and professors for their dedication and commitment to the IGH School of Nursing program. It's been a pleasure working with these professionals.”
Ms. Sprankle and Ms. McBain agreed it meant a great deal to be part of this class, and they all worked extremely hard to get to their graduation.
“It feels exciting to be part of the first graduating class of IGH, and I am so proud of the amazing opportunity I was given. Being the first class, my classmates and I laid the foundation for further students to learn and be successful,” Ms. Cardinell said.
The establishment of the school provided an educational opportunity that afforded the women the chance to make one of their dreams come true.
“I decided to pursue this opportunity because it was offered through my place of employment (Canton-Potsdam Hospital), and due to St. Lawrence Health’s generosity in reimbursing me for my education upon successful completion,” Ms. McBain said. “Because of SLH’s commitment to their staff, I was able to seek out my dreams.”
Ms. Foster noted she has wanted to earn her nursing degree for a number of years, but previous programs did not align with her needs. “Having classes in Potsdam made my attendance more convenient and that is the primary reason I went forward with this program. I'm happy I did so, because I have had a wonderful experience,” she said.
Point blank, Ms. Sprankle noted, “I chose to pursue this opportunity because of the reputation IGH holds as one of the best nursing schools.”
Ms. Cardinell said when the opportunity arose, she knew she had to be part of it. The fact that the classes were held in the evening allowed her to take advantage of the program.
“If the School of Nursing wasn’t provided locally, I don’t believe I would have been able to pursue my dream of nursing. Previously, I wasn’t able to commit to schooling full-time so when this opportunity came up it allowed me to continue working during the day and attend class at night. Now that I have finished schooling, I know I want to advance my nursing career,” Ms. Cardinell continued.
Ms. Sprankle pointed out, “Before I was accepted into the School of Nursing I was accepted into North Country Community College’s nursing program, and SUNY Canton’s nursing program. However, in choosing to attend IGH, I selected the program that fit my learning style.
“IGH School of Nursing is a good fit for those of us who learn well in a hands-on, one-on-one approach. The class numbers are smaller than most nursing programs around us, and the teachers are more than willing to help. The program also uses a learning style where instead of taking five classes at once you take one class for a couple months so you can really focus on that content,” she added.
Deciding to Become a Nurse
Among the shared factors these four women have as to why they want to be nurses is their desire to help others, and to care for members of the North Country community.
“I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare because I like to make a difference in people’s lives,” Ms. McBain noted. “I like to see the progression of a patient’s health, and them being able to go home. It also means a great deal to me to be able to offer emotional support to families if a loved one has passed away.”
Ms. Sprankle said she has wanted to help people for as long as she can remember. “When I was 16 I became a lifeguard at the local beach and I had to learn CPR and first aid; just that little bit of healthcare knowledge fascinated me. I chose to go into Health Occupations when I as in eleventh grade and I fell in love with this line of work and how much there was to learn.
“I feel nursing is one of the most rewarding careers a person can do,” she continued. “During a difficult medical situation in my life, it was nurses who made a difference, and I want to do the same for others – helping them through the most trying times in their lives.”
Ms. Cardinell explained she was extremely close to her grandmother while growing up, and assisted in taking care of her.
“I think that connection with my grandma is the main reason I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. I have been in this field for over 10 years, where I started as a Certified Nurse Assistant, then obtained my Medical Assistant credentials,” she said.
“I’ve always had a passion to take care of others. There is a special kind of reward you get at the end of the day as a nurse - when you know you made a difference for somebody. I want to provide the best care possible to those in need,” Ms. Cardinell added.
The second class of students at the IGH School of Nursing began this past January, and another class is slated to begin in August.
