Meet Nursing Student Devin Bristley

The following is a guest blog post by Kirtland student, Devin Bristley

Hello, my name is Devin Bristley and I am a current nursing student at Kirtland. I graduated from Onaway High School and live in Cheboygan with my small family. I am currently working as a waitress while chasing my passion of becoming a registered nurse.

My family and friends are my priority and the most important part of my life, including my three siblings, my niece and nephew. I am also a fur mama to my two loving doggies, and a significant other to my loving boyfriend of three years. Aside from my time being spent with family, doing homework or taking exams I really enjoy the outdoors. My family are all outdoor enthusiasts, finding any excuse to be outside in every season. You can find us riding our side-by-side, riding horses, sitting in our tree stands, snowmobiling and ice fishing, or enjoying our time in the Upper Peninsula at the family cabin in Newberry. 

So, what is ADN Nursing?

ADN stands for associate degree in nursing. This degree of study gives students a bright future as RN’s. In the program we are taught the basic care that the nurse will provide to patients — how to deliver the best compassionate care using the latest technologies. We gain real-world knowledge with hands-on clinicals in almost every aspect of nursing, such as mental health, pediatrics, gynecology, long-term care and medical surgical floors. This training gives us a realistic outlook of what our jobs will consist of in the future. 

I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to become a registered nurse, and often get asked why. I want to become a nurse because it is a career that is continually growing, always in need of employees, and helps save lives daily. I am a very caring person and helping people is a passion of mine. Whether it be blood, vomit or tears, I have always wanted to help those in need, and have never doubted that I wasn’t the person to do so. Learning throughout the nursing program has been so interesting to me, especially being taught from those who have decades of experience. Despite the uncertain times of COVID-19, I have pushed through and motivated myself to continue for those in need.

Why Kirtland? 

I chose Kirtland because they had the most welcoming and caring staff compared to any other college I visited. I was accepted into the program on my first try. From the awesome professors to the hands-on clinicals and the realistic simulation lab facilities, I felt that Kirtland had a lot more to offer than any other college. This to me showed that the faculty are there to teach us the most and offer up the best education, not to mention the high rates of passing the state board exam to become a registered nurse. I felt most comfortable here and I am glad that I chose Kirtland to further my education and pursue my degree.