When Jennifer Long decided she was ready for something new, she found inspiration close to home — in her daughter, Sadie Rivera. Sadie, who was already working as an LPN in home health for eight years, had long been living out a nursing career Jennifer admired.
Jennifer’s search for a fresh path led her back into healthcare, where she earned her CNA after 30 years away. The experience reignited something in her. “I got my CNA and started working, and I told Sadie, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this. If I’m going to do this, I think I’m going to go to nursing school,’” Jennifer recalled.
Sadie didn’t hesitate to encourage her. With a laugh, she said, “I think my mom just thought I was so cool as a nurse.” But the decision quickly became mutual. Sadie joined Jennifer at Galen’s information session, and they both decided to take the leap. They started their nursing school journey together in January 2024 – Jennifer in the two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, and Sadie in the LPN to ADN Bridge program.
Both women were searching for more opportunity and a more fulfilling chapter of life. For Jennifer, Galen’s structure made that possible. “It was a two-year program with the prereqs built in. That was super important. At my age, I didn’t want to waste time.”
For Sadie, a single mom of two, flexibility was everything. “I needed the flexibility to still work full-time. A lot of programs are Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, and that just doesn’t work for me.”
Their shared experience quickly became one of the most meaningful parts of their journey. They studied together through prerequisites and pharmacology, supported each other through tough classes, and cheered each other on. “Every day when we would get out of class, we would call each other,” Jennifer said. “We knew exactly what the other one was going through. That was priceless.”
There were unexpected and funny moments along the way, too — including a Zoom lab session when Sadie’s younger sister, Trista, spotted her on Jennifer’s screen. “She saw Sadie in her Zoom square and started waving at her,” Jennifer remembered. “Our instructor asked what was going on, and we had to explain to everyone that we were mother and daughter. Everybody laughed at our little family moment.”
Their clinical experiences gave them stories only the two of them could understand and appreciate – a real language of their own. Sadie shared a memorable moment with her mom after she witnessed open-heart surgery up close. For Jennifer, she got to tell her all about leech therapy she observed. Sadie was the only one in her family who understood when she said, “Seeing leeches suck someone’s blood on purpose – that was pretty cool.” As Sadie put it, “We always had someone else who knew exactly what we were talking about.”
By graduation this quarter, their journey came full circle. Sadie had finished her ADN Bridge program last September, and returned as a Galen alumna to present her mother with a pin during her graduation ceremony on January 14. “I’m honored and very excited,” Sadie said when Jennifer asked her to stand beside her for the moment.
When asked to describe their journey in one word, Jennifer chose “Unforgettable.” Sadie chose “Special,” noting that while anyone can go through school with a friend, “there’s nothing like having the kind of bond we have while doing something so hard and exhausting.”
What began as inspiration for Jennifer became something even deeper for both mother and daughter — a bond strengthened through long study sessions, shared clinical stories, and unwavering support. In the end, they found something even greater than a new career path. They realized that nursing truly runs in their blood.
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