Pursuing a New Path with Purpose

For Grant Alex, the decision to become a nurse grew out of thoughtful reflection and a strong desire to live out his values through his work. After earning a degree in political science and spending several years in software sales, Alex enrolled in Loyola’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program to pivot to a career that would allow him to make a greater impact in the lives of others.

Attending Loyola

When exploring nursing programs, Alex was particularly drawn to the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing’s strong reputation, extensive clinical partnerships across the Chicago area, and the ABSN’s accelerated 16-month timeline. As someone who had always envisioned building a life and career in Chicago, Loyola Nursing immediately felt like the right fit. “It was really important to me that I find a program that could provide a gateway to opportunities throughout the community,” he said. “I looked at a variety of programs, but I was really impressed by what I had heard about Loyola.”

From day one, Alex felt at home in the program, surrounded by a welcoming and diverse cohort of fellow career changers. The group quickly bonded over both their shared sense of values and the program’s rigorous curriculum. “Absolutely nothing will bring you closer together than the ABSN program, given how rigorous it is. There’s a really strong sense of community, and I know I made connections that will last a lifetime.”

Loyola’s Jesuit values quickly became a defining part of his experience. He found that Loyola’s emphasis on cura personalis—or care for the whole person—wasn’t just a guiding principle, but something that was actively lived out by his instructors, clinical preceptors, and classmates. “As a nurse, it really elevates your capacity to connect with patients and provide truly great care,” he says. “It helps you strive to be better in every single aspect of your job and recognize where things aren’t necessarily as patient centered as they could be.”

Seizing Opportunities

Those values carried directly into Alex’s clinical experiences, where he worked with diverse patient populations in settings such as the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and Lurie Children’s Hospital. His rotations not only provided him with essential hands-on training, but they also helped him uncover a passion for pediatric nursing. “The clinical placements were very transformative in helping me understand the kind of nurse I wanted to be,” he explains. “Through my clinicals at Lurie Children’s Hospital, I realized I love working with families and providing family-centered care. When I'm in a pediatric unit, I truly feel like I'm right where I need to be.”

Beyond his clinical rotations, Alex went out of his way to take full advantage of every opportunity available to him as a student. This included participating in an immersion trip to El Salvador to study social determinants of health, traveling to Rome, Italy for a nursing ethics course, and attending the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Student Policy Summit in Washington, DC. He also served as president of the ABSN Student Council and worked with school leadership to share student perspectives on program development.

“From the beginning, I wanted to be open and get the most out of this program that I possibly could. There are so many incredible opportunities available if you just say yes to things,” he says.

Looking Ahead

Since graduating, Alex has been working as a member of the flex nursing staff at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and will soon transition into a new permanent position in the hospital’s pediatrics unit. As he reflects on his time at Loyola Nursing, he’s grateful not only for the education he received, but also for the hands-on training, mentorship, and relationships that have helped prepare him for a successful start in the field. “I truly believe that I’m meant to be a nurse. This program opened so many doors and has really allowed me to live out my values,” he says. “16 months is a short amount of time. It’s a rigorous course load but it’s very manageable with a little dedication, commitment, and grit.”

 

To learn more about Loyola’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, visit our website or contact our admissions team with questions.