Our Northern Lights is an initiative that illuminates our people, their stories, and celebrates their achievements. We hope that their journey will inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world.
Brandy Purnell’s journey into the health care field started at her grandmother’s side. She remembers being 10 and joining her grandma on her shifts at Peace Haven, eating supper and visiting with the residents until it was time for the night shift to take over.
She even began schooling to become a nurse when she graduated high school, but life had other plans, including a husband, two daughters, and a career doing the administrative work for her husband’s contracting business.
“It was nice when the girls were growing up because I was able to manipulate the schedule and spend a lot of time with the kids, but after focusing my life on my family for the last 25 years, our roles changed, right? They started to change once my daughter went away to university and now my younger one kind of doesn’t need me so much anymore. I felt like If I’m going to do this, I want to do this now because the clock is ticking.”
It was time for Brandy to return to her dream. She wasn’t sure if she would even get into the program – it had been 25 years since she’d been in school – but Brandy was accepted and started in the Licensed Practical Nurse program at NLC in the fall of 2023.
“With the pandemic and all that, the health systems went downhill so much and we’re hearing so many bad things about it. But actually it kind of makes me want to be part of the solution… now more than anything, we do need people going into it. And it’s fulfilling. It’s something I like, taking care of people.”
Brandy knew that going back to school as a mature student would have its challenges, especially when it came to technology. Her very first class was a virtual class all done through Teams and there were some challenges.
“I was still trying to learn all the buttons and the ins and outs of Teams and there’s that little hand you raise, and it means that you have something to say. But I thought that the kids were waving to me!”
These challenges haven’t stopped Brandy. If all goes according to plan, she will graduate the program in 2025 with credentials that will allow her meaningful employment and the ability to move closer to her daughter in university.
Brandy credits the personal experience of going to a smaller college as one of the keys to her success.
“That’s what’s so great about NLC. So, my daughter goes to a huge university, right? And quite frankly, she might be lucky if once a year she gets one teacher that is somewhat supportive and caring, and she’s in a class with 200 people, whereas here you get like one-on-one with your teacher. It’s not just the teachers, it’s the [library staff]. They were awesome for learning. Those ladies were really good. They still are.”
And with those tools in her pocket, Brandy can work towards paying that caring forward. In a post-pandemic world, she knows that our health care system is struggling, and that is another reason she chose the nursing field.
“With the pandemic and all that, the health systems went downhill so much and we’re hearing so many bad things about it. But actually it kind of makes me want to be part of the solution… now more than anything, we do need people going into it. And it’s fulfilling. It’s something I like, taking care of people.”
To learn more about Brandy, read on:
What do you do when you aren’t studying?
I care for my family, children, husband, housework, and my other office job.
What has been the best part of your program?
Learning new information, personal growth, being proud of my capabilities, and the support from the teachers.
What would you tell another student if they were thinking of coming to NLC?
The support that you get from a smaller college is unbeatable. You get extra time and one-on-one with teachers for clarification and support, and it is a positive environment.
What is your superpower? Everyone has one!
Understanding other people, having compassion, kindness and caring communication. I am a people person.
What’s next for you? Where do you see yourself in one year? How about five years?
I will finish my PN program and begin nursing here in Dawson, eventually hoping to move south where my eldest daughter is in university.