Jennie Oliva Valedictorian Summer 2008 July 2008

At the head of this summer’s graduating class is Jennie Oliva, our valedictorian. Jennie leads her classmates in achieving the highest grade point average over the practical nursing curriculum. An even greater cause for celebration, though, is the kind of nurse that Jennie will undoubtedly be — compassionate, insightful, and determined to achieve the best for her patients and for herself.

Her source of inspiration highlights Jennie’s sense of compassion. About five years ago, Jennie started working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Sunrise, an assisted living facility in Gurnee, Illinois. Unexpectedly, she found herself really enjoying the company of the residents and the feeling of satisfaction that came from caring for them. Jennie credits her experience working at Sunrise with inspiring her to advance her nursing career.

Unfortunately though, Jennie saw little opportunity for growth working in assisted living, so she looked to work in a nearby hospital. She was working as a patient care technician and unit secretary at Lake Forest Hospital as she investigated furthering her education.

As Jennie says, “If you’re not going to go to school then you’re just there. You’re not going to go higher.” A motivated young woman, Jennie was not satisfied with being put on waiting lists for the nursing programs at other schools. So when she heard about Americare, she recognized that it was the school for her.

Jennie admits that although her grades may be excellent, the LPN classes at Americare were not easy for her. She completed every assignment and studied faithfully for every quiz. “I wasn’t trying to be valedictorian,” Jennie explains, “but I wanted to do my best.”

It wasn’t until Dr. Xavier Narceles talked to Jennie after Anatomy and Physiology class one day that Jennie ever thought about achieving this honor. He reminded Jennie that she was doing very well in both of his classes and commented that with grades like that she could be valedictorian.

Jennie cites her friends and family, especially her husband, as an important part of her accomplishment. Her husband is a registered nurse working in the emergency room of Victory Memorial Hospital in Waukegan. Jennie shares that when she sometimes gets stressed, he “sees the RN in me” and always encourages her to do her best in school so she can realize this vision.

After receiving her LPN certification, Jennie plans to continue her schooling to get her Registered Nurse license. She hopes to work in pediatrics one day or perhaps return to the area where her interest in nursing began and work with geriatric patients. Either way, Jennie says, “this is just my first step” in what will certainly be a successful nursing career.