Student Spotlight: Ashley Cunningham

“Finding out I was pregnant my first week of nursing school led to many emotions and questions. How would I continue the program with two young children at home and a pregnancy? What if something happened? My ‘what ifs’ were silenced by the unwavering support of my classmates, the nursing faculty, and my family” said Ashley Cunningham, who graduated from UACCB this fall with an associate’s degree in registered nursing.

Even with her supportive family helping with the kids as much as possible, Cunningham said there were days where she had to take her newborn, Denver, to class. “They (the instructors and her fellow students) loved Denver like she was their own,” Cunningham said. “UACCB was super supportive and encouraging – the faculty and staff are amazing. Luckily, Denver is a super easy baby, so I would just carry all her stuff in with me. My classmates took turns holding her, especially when I needed to write notes, and let her sleep in their arms. When we all needed to take notes, Denver would sleep in her carrier. She became the nursing school mascot, she even has her own pair of scrubs.”

She joked that going to nursing school with three kids was nothing short of “chaos” but said she learned a lot about herself in the process.

“I learned time management skills, and I found out that I can do (the hard things) if I put my mind to it,” she said. “The kids are so used to me doing homework or saying I have to do an assignment that they will find a notebook and say, ‘Mom, I’m doing my homework.’”

As a little girl, Cunningham said she wanted to be a teacher, but as she grew up, her career goals shifted from teaching to nursing. “Nursing not only allows for me to be home more with my kids, but it also permits endless opportunities, including teaching nursing education if I decide to get out of bedside nursing,” she said.

Cunningham said she has always enjoyed helping people, so it really wasn’t that far of a leap for her. “When they are in their most vulnerable moments in the hospital, you’re that person that helps ease their anxieties and helps them through it,” she explained.

Cunningham said after she takes the NCLEX (state boards), her next step will be to start the RN residency program at White River Health.

“I want to go into ER. That’s where I’m hoping to end up. It’s fast paced, and I enjoy fast paced. You see all kinds of kinds. I did my preceptorship there; everybody worked together and you used a ton of skills. It was just fun – I loved it.”

Cunningham said she would encourage anyone with an interest in nursing school to consider UACCB. “They meet you where are you are. They encourage you through the whole process without carrying you through it. You have to make sure you’re passing your tests and doing assignments, but they help you work through your life occurrences.”