Hi everyone!
My name is Christopher. I’m 34 and originally from Columbus, OH. I’m currently in the RN-
BSN online program here at Chamberlain, and I’m really excited finally to be on this journey!
Nursing has always been a dream of mine. I grew up watching my grandmother work as an
STNA—she was incredibly kind and caring, and seeing the way she took care of people really
inspired me to want to do the same. I’ve been in healthcare for about 10 years now, working as a
Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant. Most of my experience has been in outpatient
settings—family medicine, pulmonary & sleep, and for the past few years, addiction services. In
2021, I earned degrees in Psychology and Integrated Healthcare from Ohio University, and I also
got my Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant license in Ohio. I recently finished my
Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from Franklin University in 2023. One thing that’s
really stood out to me working in addiction medicine is how important it is to understand
anatomy and physiology. Knowing how substances affect the brain, and body helps me better
support our patients and explain what’s going on in a way they can understand. It’s been a huge
part of helping people through recovery and making sure they feel supported and informed.
Looking forward to getting to know you all and learning together!
Reply: Hi Tameka,
Thanks for sharing your journey! Your passion and dedication to the healthcare field overall
really come through. And the way that your experiences as a regional practice administrator and
EMT-B have shaped your perspective and fueled your desire to pursue nursing is really
inspiring. I also want to want to say that I appreciated what you shared about your grandparents'
encouragement and how that was what gave you the final push into nursing. Those personal
moments are often the small thing we need to remind us why we're called to this path. I, too, can
relate to the drive for nursing through personal experiences. In November 2020, my father
passed away unexpectedly from an unintentional overdose. Despite being the youngest of three
siblings, I was left to make all the decisions related to his healthcare, funeral arrangements, and
eventually managing his estate. That period was emotionally and mentally exhausting and really
rocked my academic equilibrium since I was still in my first year of college. Now, as I continue
working toward becoming an RN, I face challenges like time constraints: balancing a full-time
job, a part- time job, and coursework leaves me overwhelmed at times. I’m relying heavily on
planners, calendars, and organization tools to manage everything. Financial stress is also a factor
for me, as this isn’t my first undergraduate degree, so financial aid options are more limited. I’ve
been actively seeking out new resources and budgeting more closely to try to ease some of that
burden.
Despite everything, I’m committed to this path, and like you said... It really is about bringing
all our experiences full circle. Wishing you continued success in the program.
