Meet our February Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Leonard, LPN
Ashley Leonard, a graduate of Bolivar Technical College’s LPN program in 2021, was inspired to pursue nursing at a young age after caring for her mother during her battle with breast cancer. Her personal experiences, coupled with her passion for helping others, led her to a fulfilling career where she now works in her hometown clinic, making a difference in her community.
Q: What influenced your decision to pursue a career in nursing?
Ashley: At a young age I always knew I wanted to help people. My mom got sick with breast cancer when I was 9 years old. She soon had a mastectomy and no one could handle everything that went along with it. I was her nurse and helped with her bandages and drains. After that, I was hooked to health care in general.
Q: How has your nursing career progressed since you graduated? What positions have you held, what was your favorite and why? And what are your responsibilities in your current position?
Ashley: I graduated from the LPN program and shortly after, worked at the orthopedic clinic through CMH. I dabbled in triage nursing, and am now at a job in my hometown working for the Mercy clinic. I love specialty clinics, but my heart is in my hometown taking care of my community! I room patients, draw labs, do referrals and, in general, make the patient feel more at ease and confident with our team making their medical experience better than when they came in!
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?
Ashley: I have always been drawn to the primary care and specialty clinics. I just love getting to know people and having that one-on-one time with patients. The challenge is, you get used to people, so sometimes when something goes wrong you feel helpless. The reward is, they become like family and trust you. That to me is everything.
Q: Are there any particular moments or experiences in your nursing career that have stood out to you or shaped your professional growth?
Ashley: When my dad went through his 2nd round of esophageal cancer when I just started my LPN program. This shaped me as the nurse I wanted to be and has helped me grow as a nurse and an advocate, and to be that constant person for my patient! Our patients sometimes don’t have voices when it comes to their care and what to do, and that aspect of being a nurse is always the most rewarding thing we can do and be for them.
Q: Can you share an especially memorable time caring for a patient and why that sticks with you?
Ashley: Recently, we lost a patient that had bad COPD and a blood disease that couldn’t get controlled. He was always so upbeat even though his situation didn’t always look so good! He reminded me a lot of my dad when he was sick. Dad used to always tell me, “I’ll praise Him (God) through the valley and the storm. Even though the journey looks long and dark, He (God) is always good.” That’s how this patient was, and he also loved my dad and spoke of him often when he came in to see me.
Q: How is working as a nurse different from what, as a student, you expected nursing to be?
Ashley: It’s not that much different, other than your coworkers look at you more as a leader and someone they can come to with questions or concerns.
Q: Have you pursued additional education or certifications since graduating? If so, why did you pursue it and how has it enhanced your nursing practice and career prospects?
Ashley: So far, I am starting a night class bridge program through Cox College to help me be able to keep working as I finish my RN. I did this to help better my education, resources and opportunities for myself, my patients and my family.
Q: Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself within the nursing field? How do you plan to achieve them?
Ashley: I am currently doing it now. I’ve been an LPN for the past 3 years and now am moving towards getting my RN! Later on, I might look into aesthetic nurse specialist because I love making people feel like their best self.
Q: How have you seen the nursing profession evolve since you graduated? Are there any significant changes or trends that you find particularly noteworthy?
Ashley: We are always trying to reach those care gaps for our patients, and I see it more and more each year getting better and better.
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time when you are not working as a nurse? Any special ways to de-stress? Fun hobbies to help unwind?
Ashley: I sometimes will show up to my 5 am HIIT workouts, love walks, going to concerts, shopping, going to the movies and just spending time with my puppies and family.
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?
Ashley: Be kind to yourself and everyone else around you! You guys are a team and should help each other! It’s not a competition between classmates… you’re all going through it, make it a good time and one worth remembering!
Q: What would you tell someone today that is trying to decide whether to go in to the nursing field or not?
Ashley: Go for it! It’s one of the most rewarding and hardest careers of your life but you won’t regret it!
In reflecting on her journey, Ashley encourages aspiring nurses to embrace the challenges and rewards of the profession. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork, kindness, and constant growth, reminding students that nursing is not just a job, but a calling that brings immense personal and professional fulfillment.
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”.