On Friday, two generations of one family will be among the more than 400 麻豆原创 students walking across the stage at Addition Financial Arena to receive a nursing degree. Their achievement will not only celebrate a family milestone but also contribute to strengthening the local nursing talent pipeline amid a critical workforce shortage.
With Mother鈥檚 Day nearing, the achievement and memorable moment will be even more special for the family, who calls Apopka, Florida, home.
Stacie pursued the online master鈥檚 degree in nurse leadership and management at 麻豆原创 at the same time that her twin daughters Hannah and Elizabeth were in the bachelor鈥檚 in nursing (BSN) program on the Orlando campus.
鈥淚t鈥檚 everything I want to celebrate as a mom,鈥� says Stacie Scarborough 鈥�13, who recently accepted a position as manager of nursing professional development at AdventHealth Orlando. 鈥淓very parent dreams of seeing their children grow into happy and functional adults that have succeeded in flying on their own. They have done this and more.鈥�
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be prouder to see them walk that stage and join them in doing so,鈥� Stacie adds. 鈥淪haring the same path right now is amazing.鈥�
鈥淚 never thought that, after being so inspired by my mom鈥檚 nursing career, I鈥檇 not only graduate from the same nursing program as she did, but also do it right beside her,鈥� Elizabeth Scarborough says. 鈥淚 am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and I will cherish this moment forever.鈥�
Elizabeth鈥檚 twin sister, Hannah, shares the same pride and gratitude, making the family鈥檚 dual-generation graduation a truly unforgettable moment.
鈥淚 feel it鈥檚 made our 麻豆原创 legacy much more impactful,鈥� Hannah says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to go to same school as your parents, but it鈥檚 another to experience that school with them.鈥�
Supporting One Another
Since the family calls Central Florida home, all three have lived together while pursuing their degrees.
鈥淚magine three stressed-out students in nursing school living together. We all owe my husband, and their dad, a debt of gratitude,鈥� Stacie says with a laugh.
鈥淲e also had a lot of great opportunities to share each other鈥檚 worries while building each other up and supporting one another,鈥� Stacie says. 鈥淚t is an experience that I will never forget and consider it to be an amazing gift.鈥�
In addition to their clinicals and classes, both Hannah and Elizabeth who are Bright Futures scholars have worked as nurse techs while in their final year of the traditional BSN program.
鈥淚 am thankful for this position as it taught me a lot about patient care,鈥� Elizabeth says. 鈥淚 learned how important it is to take the time to make patients feel truly seen and heard, while also tending to their most basic needs.鈥�
For Elizabeth, her favorite part of the program is the 鈥渢hings the rest of the world does not always get a chance to see,鈥� she says.
鈥淔or instance, on the very first day of my OB (obstetrics) clinical rotation, I was able to assist in a live birth,鈥� Elizabeth says. 鈥淲atching a baby come into the world, and seeing the parents鈥� instant love and affection for that little baby, was such a moving and emotional experience that I could never forget.鈥�
鈥淭hroughout these past two years my mom has been a major support system and encouragement, while my twin sister has been my best friend and favorite study partner,鈥� Elizabeth says.
It is those memories, both with her family and friends in the cohort, that Hannah says she will cherish the most from her time at 麻豆原创.
鈥淣ursing school has become more of a wonderfully unique experience to me than simply a career path,鈥� Hannah says.
Moms, and Nurses, Inspire
Hannah鈥檚 and Elizabeth鈥檚 decision to pursue nursing was inspired by their mom and fellow Knight nurse.
鈥淲atching my mom go through nursing school when I was very young was very impactful for me,鈥� Elizabeth says. 鈥淚 remember hearing all of her nursing stories, how the job could be fun, challenging and meaningful at the same time, and it sounded like such a rewarding career to step into.鈥�
Stacie began her nursing career at Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth) as a nurse resident in the orthopedic institute on the Orlando campus. She then became a nurse educator on the Apopka campus and part of the opening team as it transitioned to a new building.
She next joined the system team as a simulation facilitator for two years. While in this role, she says she longed to be back in the clinical environment, which led her to become an educator supporting the float pool team on the Orlando campus, where she was the assistant nurse manager of professional development for the cardiac progressive care unit. With her graduate degree, Stacie is able to make another transition in her career.
鈥淲atching my mom balance her nursing career with a family was the main point of inspiration for me,鈥� Hannah adds. 鈥淲ith nursing, she was able to be available for either weekdays or weekends, allowing our family plenty of opportunities to make fun memories as well as just do normal life together.鈥�
Finding Opportunity at 麻豆原创
The family鈥檚 legacy at 麻豆原创 began two generations before them. Stacie鈥檚 grandmother, Mary Kline, graduated from 麻豆原创 with a business degree when Stacie was a new mom in her 20s.
That was the beginning of a legacy. Stacie followed in her footsteps and went back to school at 麻豆原创 at age 35 and a mom to four children.
鈥淚 truly understood what a blessing it was to have this opportunity,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was very proud of being able to finally complete my education, provide for some of our financial needs and doing so at my hometown university.鈥�
The four are not the only 麻豆原创 graduates in the family. Stacie鈥檚 eldest daughter, Jesse, Hannah鈥檚 and Elizabeth鈥檚 sister, also is an alumna. She graduated from 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Education in 2015 and is currently pursuing her master鈥檚 degree at 麻豆原创.
鈥淭hey each spoke highly of the culture and environment at 麻豆原创,鈥� says Elizabeth. 鈥淚t made me want to be a part of the 麻豆原创 community too.鈥�
Hannah also chose 麻豆原创 for the family legacy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 local, affordable, and accessible with many academic options. However, the fact that my family had gone before me was a primary reason for me to go,鈥� says Hannah.
These newest 麻豆原创 graduates, and three Knight nurses, will no doubt continue to shine bright and show their Central Florida community the strength of Black & Gold.
After graduation, Elizabeths plan to continue to follow in her mom鈥檚 footsteps and apply to AdventHealth. Hannah will continue working as a nurse tech until she accepts a nursing position in the area.
鈥溌槎乖� represents opportunity, elevation, pride and family to me,鈥� Stacie says. 鈥淚 am just so grateful for a hometown university that made so many dreams possible for me and my family. It is truly an honor to be a Knight alumnus and to welcome my two baby girls (sorry, Hannah and Ellie, you will always be my babies) into this club.鈥�
