Kaitlin Burton started the practical nursing program in January, and she is already shining as a star student. Burton was recently named the UAM College of Technology-McGehee “Star Student” for the month of March. Burton was nominated by her academic advisor, Paisley Owyoung, because of her excellence in the classroom and her character as a role-model for other practical nursing students. “In the short time Kaitlin has been in our nursing program, her academic abilities have shined. She not only has excellent grades but has proven to be a great student demonstrating professionalism, hard work, and kindness,” Owyoung stated on Burton’s nomination form.
Burton knew from an early age that she wanted to work in health professions as a career goal. When she was a kid, she thought she might want to be a veterinarian. As she got older, she fell in love with medical shows like Grey’s Anatomy. When she graduated from Washington High School in Greenville, MS, in 2019, she enrolled in classes at South Arkansas Community College (SouthArk) in El Dorado, AR, to become a physical therapy assistant. “I knew I always wanted to do some kind of healthcare work,” she said. “My family has a history of cancer diagnosis and the nurses that helped us inspired me to want to be that kind of nurse for other people,” she continued. She hopes to someday work as a clinical nurse or hospice nurse. Her father’s side of the family has a lot of nurses and they have been a part of her inspiration. Burton stated “nursing is just in my blood.”
Burton graduated from SouthArk in May 2021 with her Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences degree. A couple of months after graduating with her associate degree she was hired at Delta Health Service Family Practice for Dr. David Chambers as a “screener” during the covid-19 pandemic. It did not take her long to earn a promotion to the position of “Tech,” a position she still holds today. In her current position she is exposed to a multitude of patient needs that has helped prepare her for the practical nursing program. “Some of my job responsibilities are to check patient vitals, draw blood, perform wellness exams for insurance companies, maintain patient charts, and keep supply orders up to date,” she stated. Burton attributes the two years of medical work as part of her success in the practical nursing program. “I get to see a little bit of everything,” she said. Burton is also a trainer for newly hired Techs.
Burton loves to learn and working at Delta Health Family Services provides many opportunities for learning. “I take the opportunity to learn and do something new every chance I get. I would recommend other students wanting to go to nursing school find an opportunity like I did to work in health care in some way. Get your foot in the door, whether that is working at the front desk, answering telephones, checking in patients, anything will help you in the long run. Always ask questions. That’s what I did. That’s how you learn. You also don’t want to make a mistake because you didn’t know something and because you didn’t ask,” she said.
What Burton loves most about the practical nursing program is the organization, the setup of the program, and the opportunities for real-world scenarios with the simulation mannequin that allows students to work with real scenarios in real-time through the computerized assistance with faculty members. Anita Walker, one of Burton's instructors in the program, stated “Kaitlin is a well-rounded student who strives to do her best at everything. She works hard and does her due diligence in class and skills lab. She assists other students when they need a helping hand. She has a great attitude and a sweet personality.”
Burton is 23 years old and resides in Tillar with her boyfriend and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys sleeping and spending time with friends and family. She will graduate from the practical nursing program in December.
