USD – Sioux Falls Student Pursues Nursing Degree to Work in Emergency Care
Growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Peck always dreamed of working in emergency health care.
“I enjoy fast-paced problem solving,” said Peck, who has extensive experience working in emergency situations and caring for those in need.
She was encouraged to work in a nursing home that would train and certify her as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to get more experience and explore a career in nursing. Peck worked as a CNA for eight years, and in that time, she earned an EMT license from Lake Area Technical College’s med/fire rescue program.
A move to Brandon, South Dakota, brought Peck an opportunity to work at Sanford Health in the AirMed department, where she worked as a dispatcher as well as a trainer and board member for the AirMed Safety Committee.
Though she enjoyed the work, Peck was working long hours with two children at home. She decided it was time to go back to school to get a degree in nursing, with a goal of becoming a flight nurse.
“I loved what I did, but with my training and skills, I don’t want to be behind the scenes. I want to be the one who’s right there, giving someone hope and a level of comfort that they are going to be taken care of. Getting my BSN will help me progress and learn more skills to better assist in emergency situations,” Peck said.
After exploring her options in Sioux Falls, Peck ultimately chose USD – Sioux Falls. “Choosing USD – Sioux Falls was the easy choice,” she said. “The class schedules aligned really well for what I was hoping for, and the faculty answered all my questions and explained what the journey to my degree would look like. They even explained what the future would look like after school.
“The price was very reasonable compared to others,” she continued. “Completing a four-year program and the possibilities a four-year degree provides is worth the extra work.”
At USD – Sioux Falls, Peck has found a home.
“What I love most is the small class size,” Peck said. “But the staff’s enthusiasm to help students succeed and having a mentor from day-one are also amazing.”
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