Meet our March Alumni Spotlight: Ann Benson, LPN
Meet Ann Benson, an LPN graduate from BTC in 2019 who now serves as a charge nurse at The Maples. With a passion for caring for the older population, Ann emphasizes the importance of love and compassion in the evolving field of nursing.
Q: How has your nursing career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held and what are your current responsibilities?
Ann: I’m a charge nurse at The Maples. You name it, we do it.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in nursing?
Ann: Taking care of my mom during her last days.
Q: How is working as a nurse different from what, as a student, you expected nursing to be?
Ann: Since my class rolled into the work force at the same time as COVID-19, it was baptism by fire.
Q: Have you specialized in any specific area of nursing? If so, what drew you to that specialization, and what are the unique challenges and rewards it has brought?
Ann: I love the older population, I enjoy their stories, experiences and advice. They were the generations that were resilient and amazing.
Q: How have you seen the nursing profession evolve since you graduated? Are there any significant changes or trends that you find particularly noteworthy?
Ann: So much has changed since I started as a nurse. It was like everything you know changed from pre-covid. Nursing had to be altered to fit the situation.
Q: What advice would you give to current nursing students who are about to embark on their career path? Are there any key lessons or insights that you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Ann: Write everything down. No matter how small it seems at the time, it could save you later.
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go into the nursing field or not?
Ann: Think it over long and hard. This field is not for the weak. If you don’t have love and compassion, nursing is not for you.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Ann: I have personal wins every day and professional ones as well. I never plan really, I just go.
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time when you are not working as a nurse? Any special ways to de-stress? Fun hobbies to help unwind?
Ann: I like to hit the flea markets and thrift stores to find unique jewelry to remake into chokers.
Ann Benson’s journey from LPN graduate to charge nurse reflects resilience and adaptability in the face of unprecedented challenges. Her commitment to the well-being of the older generation and words of advice for aspiring nurses shows the enduring qualities needed in this dynamic and evolving field. If you would like to share your story about any of our programs or would like to tell us what you’ve been up to since graduating, we would love to hear it! Just email Haleigh at hgray@bolivarcollege.edu with the subject line “Alumni Spotlight”.