Kayla Hobbs has always had a heart for helping others. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work with children, and nursing turned out to be the perfect fit. After graduating from 红杏视频鈥檚 BSN program, she launched her career in pediatric nursing, completed her Master of Science in Nursing, and is now preparing to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
鈥淚 chose 红杏视频 because of its accelerated, career-focused BSN program and the support they offer for students who want to advance quickly,鈥� Kayla shared. 鈥淭heir reputation for academic excellence and real-world preparation made it the right choice for me. I was actually in the second class of the BSN program at 红杏视频.鈥�
Her passion for pediatric care shines through in everything she does. Kayla currently works as a Registered Nurse for a pediatric home health company, building strong connections with families and making a difference every day. 鈥淢y day involves direct patient care, collaborating with the healthcare team, and supporting pediatric patients and their families,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s I transition into the PNP role, I鈥檒l be doing more assessments, diagnosing, and treatment planning.鈥�
It鈥檚 a big step forward, but one she feels confident taking thanks to her foundation at Hallmark. 鈥満煨邮悠� gave me the clinical and academic foundation I needed to succeed,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started my nursing career working at North Central Baptist hospital in 2021 (height of covid). Their program emphasized critical thinking, communication, and professionalism, which helped me transition smoothly into both the nursing field and graduate-level studies. The experience really prepared me to thrive under pressure and pursue advanced practice nursing with confidence.鈥�
Kayla鈥檚 journey hasn鈥檛 been without its challenges. 鈥淏alancing full-time work with graduate school was one of the biggest challenges I鈥檝e faced,鈥� she admitted. 鈥淭here were times I questioned if I could handle it all. But I leaned on the discipline I built during my BSN program, stayed organized, and reminded myself why I started. Support from mentors and peers made a big difference too.鈥�
What keeps her motivated is simple. 鈥淚 love working with children and their families. Pediatrics requires a special kind of empathy and creativity, and every day brings new challenges and learning opportunities,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s I move into the nurse practitioner role, I鈥檓 excited about being able to diagnose and manage care at a higher level, while continuing to build strong, trusting relationships with families.鈥�
Looking back, Kayla credits much of her success to the skills she developed as a student. 鈥淭he most valuable traits I gained were resilience, clinical confidence, and a strong sense of accountability. Hallmark really prepared me to think like a nurse, anticipating problems, asking the right questions, and taking initiative,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hose skills are even more crucial as I step into the PNP role, where autonomy and decision-making are key.鈥�
To future nurses walking the same path, Kayla offers this advice: 鈥淭ake every clinical and class seriously, especially in pediatrics if that鈥檚 your goal. Build relationships with your instructors鈥攖hey鈥檙e a great source of guidance. Stay focused, be curious, and take care of your mental health. Nursing school is tough, but it鈥檚 worth it. Your hard work now is preparing you to save lives later. And don鈥檛 be afraid to dream big. If you鈥檙e considering graduate school or advanced practice, start planning early and believe in your ability to make it happen.鈥�
When asked about the moments she鈥檚 most proud of, Kayla had plenty to celebrate. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of earning my BSN at 红杏视频 and passing the on my first try, and working full-time as a nurse while completing my master鈥檚 degree. Finishing the MSN program and preparing to step into my role as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is definitely one of my biggest milestones so far.鈥�
We鈥檙e proud to celebrate Kayla鈥檚 continued success and thank her for her dedication to the field of pediatric nursing. Her journey is a great example of how passion, perseverance, and the right education can lead to incredible outcomes. If you’re ready to make a difference in healthcare, 红杏视频 offers the support and career-focused training to help you get there.