Staci Han’s journey to becoming a nurse wasn’t a lifelong dream.
It didn’t happen overnight.
Instead, it was a slow and gradual process, 20 years in the making, that led to a complete career 180.
Han, who worked in accounting and finance compliance for 20 years, took that first step into nursing when she volunteered at AdventHealth in Parker, where her family had received care several many times over the years.
“I was very touched and inspired by the nurses working there, and I enjoyed serving in that capacity, and it got me to thinking about becoming a nurse,” she says.
The timing worked out – because she was helping her daughter look into a CNA (certified nurse’s assistant) program – so Han decided to do the same thing.
“Along the way, I got a lot of confirmation and encouragement from hospital team members, and I realized I wanted to go to the next level of nursing,” she says. “I knew it would be a long journey, so I tackled it one step at a time.”
It led her to the University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing, where she’s earning her BS in Nursing through the Accelerated (UCAN) pathway.
“A lot of the skills I learned as a CNA and what I’ve learned in the classroom and clinicals so far have opened up so many opportunities,” she says. “I’ve enjoyed not only working directly with patients but working with the whole healthcare team.”
Balancing Life, Work, and School
Han is still working as a CNA while earning her second bachelor’s degree. While she isn’t working as much as before the program, she acknowledges the accelerated program's intensity.
Funding Her EducationHan is one of several students at CU Anschutz Nursing who received a scholarship to help further her education. “This shows that someone is investing not only in my education, but also in the long-term impact I’ll make on others and the community,” she says. “I don’t take this scholarship lightly, and I think it comes with a lot of accountability, and I’m so grateful.” The college offers scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students. More information is on the college’s Scholarship and Financial Aid webpage. |
“It takes a village – and it’s a family affair to coordinate everything,” she says. “Not only do I have my class and clinical schedule, but my son has school and sports, my husband has work, so I get a lot of help from my family.”
Han has also received support from her classmates – “we’ve bonded and rely on each other for moral and academic support” – as well as from her church and community group.
“I feel like I’m not alone in feeling how intense this program is,” she says. “Going back to school full time in an accelerated pace rocked my world because it’s such a different beast compared to what I’ve done before.”
A Family Focused on Healthcare
Han isn’t the only one in her family becoming a nurse. Her daughter is in the University of Pennsylvania’s nursing program, and her older son is in a physician assistant program at Thomas Jefferson University, also in Pennsylvania.
“It’s been fun having them in school at the same time as me,” she says. “They’ve been so encouraging and so supportive. It’s fun to talk about the different classes we’re taking, the things we’re learning, and what we want to do in our careers. I’m enjoying this experience. I love learning new things.
