Galen Stories – Leeann Riddle: The Only Regret I Have Is Not Coming Here Sooner

— Audio Transcript —

My name is Leeann Riddle. I’m in the two year ADN program at Galen. I graduate March 2018 and I have a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter.

Why pursue a career in nursing?

I decided to go to nursing school because I knew that my kids needed someone to look up to and I wanted to be a good role model for them, so I started at a local community college doing pre-reqs.

But things weren’t working out like you hoped…

After a year and a half of pre-reqs at the local community college, I wasn’t even in a nursing class. I felt like I was getting the runaround. I would talk to my advisor and she didn’t even know my name and I was meeting with her very frequently. After realizing that I wasn’t getting anywhere at the other school, I decided that I needed to look into other actual nursing schools. Working in a nursing home, I was able to talk to many nurses and ask them about the schools that they went to. And every nurse that I spoke to that graduated from Galen in their ADN program said that it’s the best program you can go to, and it’s accelerated so you’re able to get into the classes right away.

How was Galen different?

Galen College of Nursing was completely different than the other schools that I attended. I walked in and they gave me a tour of the school. Everyone was nice and they remembered my name. I actually received follow-up emails not long after coming for my tour because they wanted me to succeed also. Even if it was just a, “Hey, how are you doing,” email, they are more than happy to help. I felt welcomed here. Honestly, I have never felt more at home than Galen has made me feel. Luckily, I was able to have the majority of my credits transfer from my other school so I didn’t have to retake my pre-reqs that I took before.

What did you like about the Galen ADN program?

The teachers are amazing. I have never had a teacher tell me they couldn’t stay after to explain something to me that I didn’t understand or even come before class to explain something to me. Unlike bigger schools, you’re able to have that one-on-one with your teacher. If you don’t understand something, you don’t have 50 other people in your class. It’s very small classes so you’re able to connect with each other and ask personal questions.

They even have an entire class devoted to student success…

The success class that we have here at Galen actually helps us become successful in nursing classes. It introduces you to critical thinking questions. And the school and the staff, everyone is so welcoming in that class. It’s really to help you make friends and to get to know each other because you can’t be an island, you have to make friends in nursing school because you guys are going to spend a lot of time together. It’s really based on having you succeed early on so you can succeed in the long run.

Final thoughts?

Coming to Galen has been the best thing I have ever done. I know that my kids are going to be so proud of me when I graduate and that I’m going to be proud of myself. And I know that I’m going to have job security and, being a nurse, I’m going to be able to make a difference in a lot of people’s lives, just like a lot of people at Galen have made a difference in my life. Galen has made me by far the strongest I have ever been. The only regret I have is not coming here sooner.