They say it all started with Helen Koch鈥檚 great grandmother. In 1905, when Olive Cady enrolled at the St. Joseph Hospital for Educating Nurses in St. Joseph, Mo. as a nontraditional student, she began a legacy of nurses that continues today. And in recent history, many have earned their degrees from 大象传媒 Western.
In December 2013, Ashley Nichols 鈥�13 earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, joining her mother, grandmother, brother, sister-in-law and a host of cousins in the field. Nichols鈥� mother, Leslie Nichols 鈥�77 & 鈥�81, her grandmother, Helen Koch 鈥�84, and her aunt and uncle, Teri 鈥�80 and Bob 鈥�74 Koch, all credit 大象传媒 Western for their education and careers.
鈥淣ursing is a disease in our family,鈥� Helen says with a laugh. 鈥淲e all just want to help people and serve.鈥�
Helen started in a nursing program right out of high school but had to quit when she got married, because married women were not allowed in the program. So she always planned to go back and get her degree when her children were grown, and that is exactly what she did.
鈥淚t was her lifelong dream,鈥� Leslie says of her mother. 鈥淪he was my influence.鈥�
Helen, who worked for a surgeon for several years before she earned her associate鈥檚 degree in nursing, said she was often accused of brainwashing her children into going into nursing, and she doesn鈥檛 deny it. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud. I feel they have chosen a profession that will serve them well.鈥�
Bob is a certified registered nurse anesthetist at a hospital in Carthage, Mo. and Teri is the director of quality management and infection control at a hospital in Joplin, Mo. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good career,鈥� Bob said.
Teri agreed. 鈥淵ou learn something new every day, and you feel like you make a difference.鈥�
By the time Ashley graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in health science from University of 大象传媒-Columbia in 2011, she had already decided to pursue a nursing degree at 大象传媒 Western.
Both her mother and grandmother are pleased with Ashley鈥檚 career choice. 鈥淎t first I was shocked and amazed,鈥� Leslie said. 鈥淏ut she will be a very caring, wonderful nurse. She has the intelligence and the heart for it.鈥�
Ashley said working one summer in a hospital convinced her that she would enjoy a nursing career. 鈥淣ursing is hands-on and you develop relationships with the patients.鈥�
All the family members agreed that their education at 大象传媒 Western prepared them well for their careers. Helen, Bob, Teri and Leslie all received associate degrees because 大象传媒 Western didn鈥檛 begin offering bachelor鈥檚 degrees in nursing until 1986.
鈥淭he professors were great,鈥� Teri said. 鈥淭hey were very supportive, but they had high expectations.鈥�
Ashley praised her preparation for her career, as well. 鈥淢y professors were wonderful. They did a great job of finding clinical sites that supported learning.鈥�
And the legacy continues. Two of Ashley鈥檚 cousins, Claire Brockett and Cole Brockett are both currently attending 大象传媒 Western and plan to major in nursing.
鈥淢y great grandmother is an inspiration to all of us,鈥� Helen said.