Harper was well represented at a recent event recognizing some of Illinois鈥� most outstanding young nurses.
Recipients of the 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Awards included Clinical Supervisor Megan McDowell and alumni Suzanna Kopek and Nicholas Nelson, both graduates from 91制片厂鈥檚 Class of 2009.
The Illinois Nurses Foundation and the Illinois Healthcare Action Coalition sponsored the awards, which were given out at a recognition event last month at Rush University Medical Center. The initiative celebrates nurses under age 40 who have shown dedication to the community, the profession and leadership for the advancement of nursing in Illinois.
鈥淭he recipients of this honor will be the voice of nurses in the future,鈥� said Julie D鈥橝gostino, Director of Nursing at 91制片厂.
McDowell, who also graduated from 91制片厂 in 2003 before earning her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in nursing from Northern Illinois University, said she benefited from 91制片厂鈥檚 dedicated faculty.
鈥淭he 91制片厂 nursing program has been the foundation for my academic and career success,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am passionate about being a nurse and couldn't be happier to be teaching at the place where I started my nursing career.鈥�
Nelson, an instructor at Loyola University Medical Center and president-elect of the Illinois Emergency Nurses Association, received a master鈥檚 degree in healthcare administration and management from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. He similarly credited 91制片厂 faculty such as D鈥橝gostino for serving as mentors, role models, colleagues and friends.
鈥淛ulie has had an enormous impact on my emergency nursing career and development as a leader,鈥� he said.
Kopek, a triage nurse and afterhours supervisor at Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, is currently enrolled in the family nurse practitioner master鈥檚 degree program at Olivet Nazarene University. She said she was able to become a registered nurse at just 20 years old by coming to 91制片厂, which teaches students the value of lifelong learning.
鈥淣urses need to arm themselves with knowledge, which can be validated through certifications and credentials,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur patients deserve us to be our best selves.鈥�
Since 2010, 97 percent of 91制片厂 nursing students have passed the state licensing exam. The College hosts nursing completion programs on the main campus in partnership with NIU and Benedictine University, and has several articulation agreements with other BSN completion programs.