Meet our April Alumni Spotlight: Kasey Carns, BSN, RN
Meet Kasey Carns, an RN (Professional Nursing) graduate from BTC in 2020. Since then, Kasey obtained her BSN from Chamberlain University in 2022 and has worked in various nursing roles. Her journey reflects the dynamic and rewarding nature of nursing, where each experience contributes to personal and professional growth.
Q: Have you pursued additional education or certifications since graduating? If so, how have they enhanced your nursing practice and career prospects?
Kasey: I received my BSN in 2022 from Chamberlain University. These classes helped prepare me to feel confident at my job as charge nurse in the area I was working in at the time. Having my BSN has helped me grow into the position I am in currently.
Q: How has your nursing career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held and what are your current responsibilities?
Kasey: After graduating in 2020, I worked at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO on the orthopedics/medical surgical unit for a year. After this, I started at CMH in the Parkview Geriatric Wellness unit where I worked for 2.5 years. Now I am still at CMH working in the research department.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in nursing?
Kasey: For me, nursing seemed like a big challenge, and a very stable career. I loved the idea that nursing is always changing and there will always be new topics to learn. There is also not a more rewarding career where you can really make a difference in people’s lives.
Q: Are there any particular moments or experiences in your nursing career that have stood out to you or shaped your professional growth?
Kasey: Becoming a new nurse in a big hospital in 2020 was scary in many ways, but did help shape me to be the nurse I am today. There have been numerous moments throughout my nursing career that have impacted my growth. I think my experience working at Parkview Wellness helped me grow the most. This is where I became a charge nurse and really started to find my confidence as a nurse.
Q: Can you share an especially memorable time caring for a patient?
Kasey: I have had many memorable patients in my time as a nurse so far. I think one of the sweetest moments was when one of my patients ordered cake as their dessert on their dinner tray to give to me on my birthday and the patients sang happy birthday when she gave it to me.
Q: How is working as a nurse different from what, as a student, you expected nursing to be?
Kasey: As a student, I did not realize all of the opportunities I would have as a nurse. I am currently getting to help enroll and work with patients in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s medication research. These trials are working to get medications available that will help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and in some, possibly help them never become symptomatic at all. As a student, I never knew I could have an opportunity to be a part of something so amazing.
Q: Have you specialized in any specific area of nursing? If so, what drew you to that specialization, and what are the unique challenges and rewards it has brought?
Kasey: I have not specialized in any certain area yet. My passion is working with Alzheimer’s patients, and that is the patient population I get the honor to work with almost every day.
Q: How have you seen the nursing profession evolve since you graduated? Are there any significant changes or trends that you find particularly noteworthy?
Kasey: I have found that it is becoming increasingly more common to work with travel nurses and CNAs. While at my previous job, I often would be the only staff working that was not a travel nurse. You learn to become very flexible working with so many different people. I have made some very good friends that were travel nurses along the way.
Q: What advice would you give to current nursing students who are about to embark on their career path? Are there any key lessons or insights that you wish you had known when you were starting out?
Kasey: My biggest piece of advice is NEVER hesitate to ask questions. Even if you feel it is a ridiculous question, it could save a life. I ask questions every day and will continue to do so through my career. One thing that helped me when I was starting out as a new nurse was to keep a little notebook in my pocket that I kept organized notes in that I could refer back to when I was on my own. Also, if the job you start with is not right for you, that’s okay! There are infinite opportunities in the nursing field, and it is completely normal for it to take a while to find the spot you are comfortable in.
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go into the nursing field or not?
Kasey: Nursing is a very challenging and very rewarding career. I would find some areas that you would be interested in and do some shadowing to see if nursing is really what you want to do. Getting a job as a CNA or volunteering with patients could also be beneficial in helping decide if this is the path you want to take.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Kasey: I am loving my position as a research nurse. This is a new and growing department, and I would love to stay and grow with the department and grow into new roles as they are developed. I do not currently have any plans to go back to school.
Kasey exemplifies the diversity of the nursing profession, demonstrating resilience and dedication in navigating different roles. Her advice to aspiring nurses underscores the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and the pursuit of fulfilling opportunities in a field that continues to offer both challenges and profound rewards. If you would like to share your story about any of our programs or would like to tell us what you’ve been up to since graduating, we would love to hear it! Just email Haleigh at hgray@bolivarcollege.edu with the subject line “Alumni Spotlight”.