High school senior Kylie LeValley, who for the past year has worked every other weekend as a nurse aide at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas, will receive her diploma on May 17. That’s one day after she will have graduated from Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology with her certification as a patient care technician.
Because the 17-year-old has been taking a dual course load through her high school’s BioMed Program, she will need only one semester of in-person classes at Wichita State University before starting nursing school.
“I originally thought I wanted to be a surgical tech,” Kylie said, but a shadowing experience changed her mind. “I really love the care of patients at the bedside.”
Her goal once she completes her degree is to be a nurse on 4SE, the hospital’s cardiac/medical-surgical unit where she now serves.
“I absolutely love it here,” she said, noting that while she has floated to five or six other units and everyone has been nice, “4SE is like a family.”
In addition to looking out for her, she said, “They teach me even more than I could get in the classroom.”
Christan Rose, the unit's nurse manager, said Kylie has been a “bright spot” on the unit.
“Kylie has a very positive attitude and is invested in learning all that she can,” Christan said. “We hope that one day she will be a great RN here within Ascension.”
