Nursing graduate fulfills dream, inspires kids

For Wendy Bush, earning her degree in nursing from ECTC was a culmination of more than 25 years’ worth of dreams. Ever since age 9, when nurses showed kindness when her grandfather passed away, Bush has wanted to help people in the same way.

“Nurses deal with people during the worst times in their lives,” she said. “I want to support patients and their family members and positively impact their lives.”

Bush has worked in the medical field as a nurse aid since she was 17 and finally felt ready to take that next step. She graduated from ECTC in May and now works as a registered nurse at Baptist Health Hardin, caring for pediatric and telemetry patients. She will start her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in January with Kentucky State University, a partner of the Robbins University Center at ECTC.

“Studying at ECTC has opened my life up to higher education,” Bush said. “It’s been a steppingstone to a bachelor’s degree, maybe one day a master's, and then who knows? ECTC has built my confidence in myself – not just in nursing but also in life.”

As a mother of six teenagers, Bush had to balance her roles as a wife, mother, student and employee. There was a period where once a week she had to be awake for 46 hours straight, working the night shift, going to class, then completing her coursework. With both she and her husband working full time, the children picked up the slack.

“My kids played a huge role in helping so I could focus on studying. It was a family thing to get me through school. Everyone suffered a bit, but everyone benefits, too,” Bush joked. “I just knew that it was temporary and I made it with the support of my family.”

Seeing their mother earn her degree as a first-generation student brought a change in her children, Bush said. They started putting more effort into their own schoolwork and planning for their future, so it felt like she was helping to break a generational curse.

Not only did she graduate, but she also was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and earned all A’s in her nursing classes.

“I never thought I could do this, and I did,” she said. “Life didn’t stop, and I’m proud of balancing everything and I’m proud that I worked really hard and did well.”

Bush said ECTC’s support services were a big help during her time at the college. With writing assistance in the Writing Center, transportation and other support through Family Scholar House, and financial help with the cost of obtaining her nursing licensure through the college’s Going Pro Fund, she was able to achieve her goals.

“I have a huge place in my heart for ECTC because of the love they showed me,” Bush said. “My dream is to come back and work as a clinical instructor to impact students the way my instructors impacted me. If I could just inspire one person, that would be amazing.”

Wendy Bush