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As a child, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ senior Katie Lewis wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a veterinarian. Healthcare was an interest in part because her mom was a nurse. Today, Lewis works as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), her twin sister is a combat medic in the Army and two other siblings have careers in healthcare. 

When her father experienced a health scare during her teen years, Lewis witnessed the attentive care he received from hospital nurses. She decided she wanted to pursue a career in nursing. 

Now as a standout student in the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ School of Nursing, the Hilliard, Florida native will earn a BSN degree in May with minors in psychology and religious studies. 

“When I visited my dad in the hospital, I saw how the nurses took care of people in their worse times, and I decided I wanted to do that,” said Lewis. “I’m incredibly empathetic and that’s something I pride myself on. I like to take care of people in their worst times and help make their day a little bit better.” 

In preparation for a nursing career, she obtained a CNA license through a course offered at her high school, Hilliard Middle-Senior High School. 

Choosing ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ and School of Nursing experiences 

Desiring to remain in Florida to attend college, Lewis began her tenure at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ in fall 2021. She decided ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ was the best choice due to its strong nursing program and proximity to home. 

“I looked at several programs and ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ has one of the better nursing programs in the state of Florida,” Lewis said. 

It also helped that Jacksonville is home to numerous high-ranking hospitals. 

“I liked the idea of being at the epicenter of a lot of the best hospitals in the country,” she said. 

Since joining the Osprey community, Lewis has juggled her course load while working full-time as a CNA, first at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside beginning her freshman year and then last year joining UF Health Jacksonville, where she works in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. 

She had many of her initial courses and labs in the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ MedNexus Simulation Center. She said the facility offers innovative technologies that help students feel as close as possible to working on real patients without being in an actual hospital. She said that experience can help students get over any anxiety they might have about working in healthcare. 

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ faculty also helped open the doors to other experiences, such as visiting Wolfson Children's Hospital in downtown Jacksonville. 

Lewis says balancing school and work obligations is both challenging and rewarding, but she enjoys the process — saying forensic nursing and anatomy have been some of her favorite courses. 

Getting the Presidential Gold Scholarship, in addition to having a Florida Prepaid Tuition Plan and Bright Futures, helped Lewis have peace of mind financially during college. 

Lewis has consistently impressed her instructors with her leadership qualities, knowledge application and volunteer efforts. 

“Katie’s inquisitive nature and thirst for knowledge are qualities that will help her to be successful in the nursing field,” said Nursing Instructor Trina Taylor. “She actively seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge while showing a desire to excel in the nursing profession and provide her patients with the best care possible.” 

Thanks to a recommendation from Taylor, Lewis spoke to the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees (BOT) at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ MedNexus in fall 2024 about her experiences in the nursing program and how it effectively prepares its students to succeed in the medical field. 

“The School of Nursing’s faculty are really good at instilling confidence and preparing you to become a registered nurse,” Lewis said. 

Lewis said she is grateful for the support she receives from her professors, citing Dr. Sandra Shapiro, assistant professor of nursing, and Dr. Julie Baker-Townsend, clinical associate professor of nursing, among those who have had a positive impact in her nursing journey.  

Baker-Townsend commends Lewis for her strong work ethic, which has landed her in the top 5% of her class. 

“Katie’s outstanding attitude, along with her preparation for every situation including class attendance, tests, clinicals and clinical simulations, has propelled her to the very top of her class,” Baker-Townsend said. 

Hobbies and Future Plans 

Despite her busy schedule, Lewis has forged meaningful bonds with her fellow nursing students. She and several nursing students enjoy participating in intramural volleyball — Lewis played the sport competitively throughout her middle and high school years. To unwind, Lewis says she loves to read. 

As she looks toward the future, Lewis is preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse following graduation in May. Her career goal is to become a nurse practitioner working in an ER, where she can continue taking care of others. 

“I want to stay in Jacksonville and serve my community through helping them in their times of sickness,” said Lewis. “I am only able to do this because of the education I got here at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. I am so thankful that I chose to go here four years ago. It was always ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.”