Local mom of 3 fulfills dream of completing nursing certification

ELDORADO - Local student and single mother Brittany Roberts recently graduated with her registered nursing certification from Southeastern Illinois College's Nursing Program.

The certification came after nearly a decade's worth of work and study. For Roberts, it meant the investment made by studying while raising a family had finally paid off.

Roberts, whose roots are deep within the southern Illinois area, entered school with the ambition of becoming a fully certified RN.

"I love caring for people," Roberts said. "Nursing is more a lifestyle than anything."

Roberts credits her aunt Pam McNeil as an inspiration in her occupational decision-making. McNeil works as an RN as well, currently serving at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.

Roberts began studying for her LPN in 2009, graduating with the certification in 2011. After her initial graduation, Roberts worked as a clinic nurse at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado for seven years before deciding to advance her education. The decision didn't come easy.

"I was nervous," Roberts said. "I'm a single parent. I have three children and I was working full time. So that was an adjustment."

Roberts' immediate family consists of her three children Noah (13), Emily (9), and Maggie (3) all of whom Roberts said fully supported her endeavors.

"I have a wonderful family," Roberts said. "They helped around the house, doing chores, making dinner just so I could study. They were phenomenal."

Roberts also found a strong support base within her class at SIC. The intimacy of the class' size led Roberts to discover she shared more in common with her classmates than simply an area of study.

"In our class we had a lot of nontraditional students," Roberts said. "A lot of single parents and working moms."

The rigorous coursework combined with the commonalities shared between Roberts and her fellow classmates forced the group to come together in order to complete the rigorous criteria of Illinois' number one ranked nursing program.

Still, Roberts believes the graduation ceremony to be the most rewarding moment of her time spent within the program. With her family in observance, Roberts underwent the pinning ceremony as the final step toward fulfilling a lifelong ambition.

"It was a huge accomplishment," Roberts said. "Not only for myself but as a class in general."

For Roberts, the most rewarding moment of the evening came when her family reunited with her at the conclusion of the ceremony.

"When my son told me he was proud of me, that was the highest (moment)," Roberts said.

As an RN about to enter the workforce in a different capacity, Roberts has noticed the beneficial effects her advanced education has had on her professional skills. She largely credits the faculty of SIC's nursing program for their knowledge and influence.

"You couldn't ask for better instructors than (at) SIC," Roberts said. "I'm blessed that I've been able to learn from them. They have given me a solid foundation."

Within a career field that defines teamwork, Roberts believes SIC's program provided the foundation necessary to flourish within an occupation that is always in demand.

In the future, Roberts would like to work as a nurse practitioner while serving those within southern Illinois-based communities. Staying local is an important factor for Roberts and her family. But no matter what her current occupation might title her, Roberts's objective is always to provide the best medical treatment to her community while also striking the right balance of career and family.

"Just being that shining light in someone's darkness and being able to help other people is the most rewarding thing that I could do," Roberts said.