Jenoy Bolden, MSN ‘20, APRN-CNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, graduated in May 2020 from Kent State University College of Nursing’s Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program. In life, and in school, Bolden has worked to improve her personal and professional growth while being an example for others. “It was important to me to show the people in my life that it’s never too late to go back to school,” she said. “But I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.”
As a nurse practitioner, Bolden has increased responsibility for her patients and their health-related outcomes. Her love of working with people and a desire for an occupation that was both fulfilling and made a difference in people’s lives led Bolden to the nursing profession. “I like that nursing provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. It’s also exciting because every day is different.”
Bolden chose Kent State College of Nursing over other schools for her master’s program because it allowed her to be a part-time student, take classes online, and pay a reasonable cost for an exceptional education. “Kent State has a great relationship with the local health care systems,” said Bolden. “I knew I would receive a great education here. The faculty prepared me well for a career as a nurse practitioner.”
While in graduate school, Bolden experienced two pregnancies and one childbirth. She recalled how grateful she felt to have professors who took the time to show her how juggling work, school and pregnancy could be a smooth and stress-free experience. “I took an online class while on maternity leave. Seeing my newborn son beside me motivated me to keep going because I needed to be an example for him. I wanted to provide him with more than I had growing up.”
Graduating with her master’s degree and having a baby in the middle of a pandemic was especially stressful for Bolden, but she was impressed with how seamlessly her classes transitioned to an online-only format, which allowed Bolden to graduate on time as expected.
Without the support of her husband and parents, along with the foresight to plan, Bolden shared that she would not have been successful as a student. “During the last year of the program, I decided to work part-time which helped me balance everything, but it was still a lot of work,” said Bolden. “There never seemed to be enough hours in the day. It was a juggling act at times, but being able to prioritize, sacrifice and organize were key to my success, in addition to setting aside quality time with my family.”
Bolden started her position as an inpatient Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner at University Hospitals in July 2021. “I’m so happy to be in my current field and enjoy the work I do on a day-to-day basis,” said Bolden. “I have seen my confidence grow as a provider and continue to learn each day. Thanks to my graduate program at Kent State College of Nursing, I see things from a different point of view and my patients benefit from that knowledge and understanding.”
Bolden hopes her story encourages fellow nurses to never give up on advancing their education. “Never stop challenging, pushing or setting new goals for yourself. Push to be the best version of you possible,” she said. “I’m so happy I chose Kent State University College of Nursing to complete my degree. The faculty are amazing, the campus is beautiful and the education is top-notch. I wouldn’t change a thing about how I got to this stage in my nursing career.”
Learn more:
To learn more about Kent State University College of Nursing’s master’s programs, please visit: http://www.kent.edu/node/987101
To view the Kent State University College of Nursing Graduate Programs Guidebook, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/42ty62nm
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