As a single mom, Katie’s decision to return to school to get her nursing degree was influenced by wanting to provide a better life for her daughter.
When Katie Peters graduated from high school, she thought going to college seemed like a good idea.
“I did great in high school. I got good grades and school came easily to me,” she said. “Even though I wasn’t exactly sure of what I wanted to pursue in college, it seemed like the natural progression of what I should be doing.”
After two years and switching her major three times, Katie came to the realization that college wasn’t for her at that time.
“I began working at Best Buy,” she said. “But after having my daughter in 2019, I knew I wanted a solid career that could make life better for us.”
Katie said it was during her own hospitalization for her daughter Amelia’s birth that she really got to see and experience firsthand the difference nurses make in the lives of their patients.
“I’d always had an interest in nursing (it was my original college major) but being a patient gave me actual experience of what they do,” she said.
Katie currently works as a patient care assistant at Akron Children’s while she is also in nursing school at Stark State pursuing her associate nursing degree. Katie’s tuition, books and childcare costs while she is in school are covered by the hospital’s Career Launch program.
After being laid off from her job at Best Buy during COVID, Katie decided it was time to pursue a job in health care. After a stint at an adult hospital, she joined Akron Children’s in 2021 as a patient care assistant (PCA) while applying to nursing school.
Although she wasn’t accepted on her first try, she eventually persevered and entered Stark State’s associate nursing degree (ADN) program. She was also accepted into Akron Children’s Career Launch program which helped pay tuition and associated costs like gas, childcare, scrubs and books.
“This program has been a blessing in so many ways,” said Katie. “I love the support that I receive from my mentor, Amanda Wade, nurse practitioner in the ER. She understands what I’m going through, and she believes in me. I can bounce ideas off her and learn about her experiences.”
While Katie is in school 3 days a week, Children’s covers the cost of Amelia’s childcare.
“As a single mom, that’s a big deal,” she said.
Katie said another benefit to the program is knowing she’ll be supported as she transitions into a staff nurse position after graduation.
Katie, pictured with her mom, says one of the many benefits of Career Launch is knowing she’ll be supported as she transitions into a staff nurse position after graduation.
“It’s nice to have that security,” she said. “Since the organization is so large, I have lots of options figuring out the area of nursing I would like to work in.”
Katie said the skills she has learned as a PCA will also help make her a better nurse.
“My experience as a PCA and working with behavioral health patients has made me a really good listener,” she said. “Sometimes patients and parents just need someone to listen to them.
“I also bring the perspective of a single parent, single income household,” she added. “I can relate and empathize with someone who has a kid in the hospital and maybe another one at home. They are stressed and worried about childcare and the loss of income from not working. I can empathize with that and try to be there for them.”
