Hands-on Experiences Lend a Helping Hand

Taylor Snyder credits Terra State for allowing her to follow her dreams and being a stepping stone to achieving her ultimate career goal. Snyder graduated in May of 2022 with an Associate of Applied Science degree from the Nursing program.

Growing up, Snyder wanted to become a forensic nurse so she could ultimately be a sexual assault examiner. To pursue this dream, she first received her bachelor's degree in criminal justice and forensic psychology in May 2018. After graduating, her next plan was to receive her master's degree in forensic nursing, but she realized that she must have a nursing license first to enter this program.

Soon Snyder enrolled at Terra State in the fall of 2018 after speaking with a few people about their positive experiences with the Nursing program and how the instructors are fantastic. She thought this program could help propel her to achieve her career goals while staying in the area.

Enrolling at Terra State was easy. After completing her bachelor's degree, she was able to transfer some of her classes into the Nursing program, which allowed her to save both money and time.

After starting classes, she realized that her instructors and classmates were there to help everyone succeed. "My overall experience at Terra State was great. I learned a lot, and the instructors were very helpful and showed that they truly care about their students inside and outside of the classroom," said Snyder. "The classes were also great because I had so many classmates who were always willing to help each other study and understand the lessons. Everyone in the Nursing program got very close, and I will always be thankful for having that positive experience while being in a difficult program."

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  DegreeRegistered Nurse
• 
  Employer

  ProMedica Memorial Hospital

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  Job Title

  Registered Nurse

 

Outside of classes, Snyder was part of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) and became president of the organization during her last semester. She also helped at the flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics on campus.

One of her favorite parts about the nursing program was getting to participate in clinicals. "Clinicals were a nice add-on to the program because it was great learning about the different types of facilities and hospitals that I liked so I could figure out which ones would be the best fit for myself after graduating," said Snyder. "Clinicals also provided me real-world experience in the nursing field and allowed me to network with many other students and career professionals within the field."

Upon graduating, she took and successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and started working as a nurse in the Nurse Residency Program at ProMedica Memorial Hospital in Fremont, Ohio. Snyder loves her job and felt prepared to enter the career field upon graduation. "Terra State is unique because you get a lot of hands-on education while being in small class sizes. It is easier to get the one-on-one help you may need. The College and the instructors also make sure that you are prepared to take the NCLEX and start your career," said Snyder.

While in the Nurse Residency Program, she realized that students from four-year university programs did not receive as much hands-on learning and opportunities as she did. "One of the most impactful things I learned at the College was being in the lab and putting our knowledge to real-life use before entering the field. It was beneficial to learn about different medical techniques and procedures before having to do it on a real-life patient," said Snyder.

"The advantage of a degree from Terra State is that each student has the opportunity to move on after you get a degree, whether that be transferring to another school or using the degree you earned to find a job. Since everything is so hands-on, you feel really prepared for what you are wanting to do next," said Snyder.