ECTC graduate honors grandmother’s legacy with nursing degree

Recent ECTC graduate Josette Reed was committed to earning her nursing degree, so much so that even after having her fourth baby during her first semester in the program, she returned to class a week later.  

“I was determined not to miss class,” she said. “And I only missed one.” 

Reed’s biggest motivation is to help her children have a better life. Managing her responsibilities as a single mother and nursing student wasn’t easy, but with the encouragement of her professors she was able to keep going.  

“They always understood when I was struggling and tried to find ways to help,” she said. “They felt like family to me. They pushed me to do better and were very supportive.”  

Reed earned her certified nursing assistant certificate in 2018, but her dream from a young age was to become a nurse. She had family members in the profession, most notably her grandmother, who worked in a nursing home. As a child, Reed made friends with the patients there, even becoming pen pals with some. 

“My grandmother and I spoke a lot about me becoming a nurse,” she said. “She knew that I have a big heart and love to help people as much as I can.” 

Her grandmother passed away while Reed was still in nursing school, but she is honoring her legacy through her own work as a nurse. She found employment at Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville even before graduating and plans to continue her education. 

“I’d like to get a bachelor's degree, and I’ve spoken with my dad about becoming a nurse practitioner,” she said. “We’ll see where it goes, but I’m definitely not stopping here.”