By Sarah Campo, Director of Alumni Engagement at ECPI University

For 18 years, EPCI University graduate Megan Cannon worked as a medical assistant, but she always knew she wanted to go further. She first took that leap back in 2010 when she enrolled in ECPI University’s practical nursing program. At the time, both Megan and her husband were taking the next steps in their careers. While she was pursuing healthcare, he was attending the Culinary Institute of Virginia. 

However, Megan’s life suddenly changed in a way she couldn’t have anticipated when she lost her husband. After his passing, she made the difficult decision to pause her studies and focus on raising their daughter. 

As her daughter grew older, Megan began thinking more about the future she wanted to build and the example that she wanted to set. That pushed her to reconsider the goal she had paused. “I was ready to start a whole new chapter in my life,” she said.

With her decision made, Megan re-enrolled at ECPI University in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. She graduated in February 2024 and earned her licensure as a registered nurse (RN).

Picking Up the Pieces

When Megan decided to continue her nursing journey, she needed an option that could support her schedule as a parent. She wanted to keep her daytime job, so having night classes available made a significant difference. She also personally knew several people in healthcare who had attended ECPI, which further motivated her decision.

After submitting her application, Megan took her Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) on campus and immediately received feedback. The admissions team was clear about the program's requirements. “It was almost like a therapy session,” she shared. “They lay everything out and walked me through it.” With their support, she confirmed it was the right choice for her.

When Megan returned to campus for her first day of the program, she was greeted by a familiar face. Ms. Robbin Bell, who had been part of the nursing faculty back in 2010, welcomed her back with a smile.

Finding Others Like Her

Once she settled into the program, Megan quickly connected with her cohort over their shared experiences. Many of them were student parents like her who had overcome great challenges to be there. As Megan put it, “I was with people who have already been knocked down and were ready to do whatever it takes to finish school.”

The cohort offered one another support in class and in their personal lives. They stayed in touch through a group text that they keep active to this day and even babysat for each other when someone needed it. The sense of community that they built carried them throughout the program.

That support helped her engage more fully with the coursework. She liked how each class connected to the next and how the foundational courses like anatomy and medical terminology were steppingstones to more advanced topics. She also appreciated the time she spent practicing clinical skills in labs. Working with mannequins in the mock ICU helped her learn how to start IVs and draw blood before working with real patients.

Megan spoke highly of her instructors, who were all working nurses. Her anatomy and physiology teacher stood out to her as being superb. The instructors' real-world experience helped her understand how the material applied to everyday patient care, and she was encouraged to ask questions in class.

It wasn’t long before Megan and her cohort saw the finish line.

Showing Her Daughter What’s Possible

The graduation ceremony was especially meaningful in a way that Megan didn’t expect. She didn't realize until she arrived that both nursing and culinary students were being honored that day. As she walked alongside the culinary graduates, she thought of her husband. “We would have graduated at the same time,” she said. “It felt like he was there.”

Megan's favorite moment, though, was her nurse pinning ceremony. It was an intimate gathering of family and friends. In a small room, her classmates selected her to deliver the salutation speech, which she was proud and honored to do. In the audience, her daughter, who had been her reason for returning to school, was watching with tears in her eyes.

When it finally came time for the formal pinning, her daughter and her instructor placed the pin on her together. It was a moment that marked the end of a long journey and the start of a new career.

Living the Life She Imagined

After graduation, Megan took the NCLEX-RN for licensure. She admitted feeling nervous about it, but she was confident in the knowledge and skills she had developed. She felt that her coursework at EPCI had prepared her for the exam, and she ended up passing with flying colors.

Now a practicing registered nurse, Megan works in the emergency department at Sentara Hospital. Her role comes with more personal responsibilities than she had as a medical assistant. She closely interacts with patients and makes many of her own clinical decisions. She also works alongside one of her former instructors, which has been a meaningful connection for her.

There was one important lesson that her instructors often emphasized, and it still guides her work today: safety is always first. This core principle taught her to pause, ask questions, and think through each step. “Nursing is the number one trusted profession there is,” she shared. “It’s very important that I always consider the safety of my patients.”

Confident that she’s where she wants to be, Megan is also considering going back to advance her education even further.

A Career 14 Years in the Making

Even though Megan's healthcare journey took almost two decades, she never lost her passion for helping people. At 36, she finished what she started and has become an inspiration to her daughter, showing her what it means to not give up. That, to her, is what makes it all worth it.

Looking back at how far she’s come, Megan has a message for others who may share her story: "My advice to anyone who wants to be a nurse and is going through hardships is that you're always going to have hardships. No matter what stage of life you're in, you have to take that first step or else it's never going to happen. You have to go out and get it."

About the Author: Sarah Campo

Sarah Campo is the Director of Alumni Engagement at ECPI University. She is passionate about sharing graduate stories, celebrating their achievements, and building meaningful connections that continue beyond graduation.