“After I had my second son, I decided to retire from my position as a Curriculum Developer and pursue nursing, my true passion. More specifically, I wanted to become a labor and delivery nurse,” says Lea Nuhanovic. Lea was drawn to PVCC because of its great student outcomes, small class sizes, excellent preparation for the NCLEX, and affordability. “I completed my BSN in a concurrent enrollment program with ASU for a fraction of the cost.”
Lea says that her instructors at PVCC were invested in and focused on students. “Every professor wanted to support us in our journey toward graduation, however, Jocelyn Goodwin was the most influential for me because of her passion for teaching coupled with her passion for the profession,” remarked Lea. “While she is not a labor and delivery nurse, she ensured that her students got to know and understand various aspects of nursing and focused on encouraging each of us based on our own unique interests. She is a true example of what a career in nursing is all about.”
The nursing program led Lea to meet some of her very best, lifelong friends. One of her most memorable and humbling experiences was donating her time to a soup kitchen and serve the community with her fellow nursing colleagues. Additionally, Lea appreciated the opportunity to gain hands-on experience as a volunteer at a pediatric vaccination clinic provided by Maricopa County as well as several wellness clinics to check blood pressure and head-to-toe assessments for uninsured and underinsured adults.
When recalling her experience at PVCC, Lea shares, “I think my very first nursing course in Block One affected me the most because it was my first time getting a chance to dip my feet in the water and experience nursing with real patient interaction. I knew immediately that this career was truly my calling and I loved every minute of each clinical.” Professor Janice Podwika ensured Lea and her classmates that they were well prepared to be on their own taking care of patients in a nursing home setting. The course opened Lea’s eyes to all the different paths a nursing career can take and made her realize how lucky she is to have discovered her passion.
From the state-of-the-art lab equipment to the quality of instructors, Lea says that “PVCC has given me an undeniably outstanding education.” The relationships Lea developed continue even after she graduated. “My clinical instructors enthusiastically helped me gain footing as a new graduate with letters of recommendation and even helped me secure interviews for employment,” she said.
Lea obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from ASU and an MBA from Grand Canyon University and worked as a Curriculum Developer before embarking on her nursing career. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from ASU and has been a labor and delivery nurse since April 2020. Lea currently has her dream job at her favorite hospital, Downtown Banner University Medical Center. She says, “I am excited to see where my nursing journey takes me, and I am so thankful for the path that led me here.”