Alabama nursing graduates ready to hit the front lines
HANCEVILLE, Ala. (WBMA) — When Makenzie Tuten made her way to Wallace State's Nursing Program a couple years ago, she had no idea that she would be graduating during a pandemic. While this may have been beyond her wildest dreams, she is ready to get to work as a nurse during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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"I am going to be super proud and honored to take on the role as a nurse and get in there at such a crazy time during this pandemic and be able to help out," Tuten said. "I know there are nurses in there now that are just worn out. They are tired. I want to come in and be able to help and take some of that stress and pressure off of them."
Tuten was one of the dozens of students that took part in Thursday's graduation at the Wallace State Hanceville Campus.
Director of the Nursing Program at the Hanceville Campus, Deborah Hoover, added that these students are ready to fight the battle against COVID-19.
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"Their services are critical," Hoover said. "They are the future of our healthcare system, and they are bringing a lot of innovative ideas to help us improve our healthcare system and fight this virus but actually serve the public for years to come."
Other students that took part in the graduation celebration were respiratory therapy graduates. One of those graduates is Brittany Stadler, who says she is ready to get on the front line in this battle, but adds she and others are ready for curveballs to come their way.
"The knowledge that we have gotten over the course of the program, of course, we will be using that, but there are probably going to be additional things that come at us that we didn't expect," Stadler said.
"It is exciting, actually because you know you're going in there to help so many people that are suffering, and that they need your help," fellow respiratory therapy graduate Maggie Yambrek said. "Being able to feel that and know that you're helping somebody, it feels great."