Alumni Spotlights: Discover Inspiring Stories from Nightingale College Alumni
At Nightingale College, our alumni are living testaments to the resilience, compassion, and dedication it takes to become a nurse. From balancing family life and studies to giving back to their communities and overcoming repeated setbacks, each journey reflects a unique path to success in the nursing profession. The stories of Frances Lerma, Melody Sampaio, and Bryan O’Neill showcase the heart and determination of learners who turned personal challenges into powerful motivations.
Through our accessible academic programs, supportive learning environment, and commitment to fostering excellence, we empower aspiring nurses to pursue their dreams, no matter where they start.
Frances Lerma – A Labor Born Out of Love
Meet Frances Lerma, a Las Vegas native juggling life as a mom of four and a fifth-semester learner at Nightingale College. With a husband in the Air Force and a house buzzing with soccer games and school events, Frances thrives in the chaos. “My family is my everything,” she says, as she describes their hiking trips, road trips, and the meals she cooks to bring everyone together. For her, the kitchen is more than a workspace—it’s therapy, a place to unwind and bond. Music fills her home too, with piano and violin melodies offering an escape.
Learn more about the learning experience of parents who aspire to become nurses.
Frances’s drive to become a nurse stems from love. “I want to be there for my kids in an emergency,” she explains, “and for my aging parents—my mom has diabetes, my dad has high blood pressure.” Her dream? To work as a pediatric or NICU nurse, helping new moms care for their babies—a role she understands deeply as a mother herself. Inspired by relatives in healthcare, she’s determined to make a difference, one patient at a time.
Starting college was daunting—Frances didn’t know a soul. Undeterred, she reached out to fellow learners, swapping numbers and forming study groups through Teams and in-person meetups. “Nursing school is tough, but with the right people, nothing feels impossible,” she says. Nightingale’s online program fits her busy life perfectly, letting her study around her kids’ schedules after stepping away from work to focus on her goals.
For Frances, every late-night assignment is a step closer to a future where she can care for her family and others. “It’s challenging,” she admits, “but I know it’ll all be worth it.”
We know that nursing is more than just a career – it is an aspiration born out of heartfelt love and care for our families, peers, and communities. It is also an arduous journey to embark on, one that may involve sacrifices and added responsibilities. At Nightingale College, we aim to provide the proper learning structure and additional material support to empower learners to pursue their dreams, even when family or other obligations may interfere and discourage them from doing so. Our hybrid or online academic programs provide enrollees with certified, high-quality education in a way that accommodates other obligations and lessens the burden on aspiring nurses. The resources, services, and financial support characteristic of the learner experience at Nightingale College are intended to promote excellence and community among the next generation of nurses, ensuring that any aspiring learner has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Melody Sampaio – The Importance of Giving Back to the Community
After her son was born with a heart condition and taken to the hospital, Melody Sampaio refused to leave his side. Even on her birthday, Melody didn’t budge from his hospital room. When her son’s nurse came back to the room and saw Melody still there, she knew Melody needed some care, too.
“She brought me a slice of chocolate cake from the cafeteria with a toothpick and a piece of medical tape that she made, and she wrote, ‘Happy birthday, Mommy, from Hunter.’ It was that moment where I knew I wanted to be like her.”
Now that she’s close to graduating and becoming an RN herself, Melody carries that spirit of service forward, not just in her chosen profession, but within her community and family. She constantly looks for opportunities in her community to help others. Her community service efforts began with delivering Thanksgiving meals. She has volunteered as a counselor at a camp for foster children. She also serves meals to people and works with an organization that helps people in disaster-stricken areas.
But Melody’s favorite service opportunity is working with a community in Tijuana, Mexico. A trip with her family to build a house for another family has become a yearly tradition. Melody’s next big dream is to create a storehouse of supplies next to the medical clinic she helped to build.
Melody’s children have adopted her legacy of service. After accompanying Melody on several service projects, they now find service opportunities of their own.
For learners who are interested in serving their community, Melody says opportunities are everywhere. “Start with what interests you. You can go to your local food bank. You can get together with friends or family and make meals. You can Google your town’s resources and offer your services.”
Even though Melody is busy with family, school, work, and other demands, she wants to make a difference, and that’s why she gives back to her community. “I could be that person who could instill beauty or some little seed in someone's life,” Melody says. “Even when they get older, they can look back and remember, and that one little seed can grow.”
Read more testimonials from our past alumni and learn what to expect when learning at Nightingale College.
At Nightingale College, we know that nursing is not only about providing care to each patient but also about helping to better communities. That is why we empower learners from all walks of life and particularly from historically underserved and underrepresented communities to achieve excellence in the field of nursing, by providing quality education in accessible ways that accommodate other needs or obligations. Beyond our hybrid or online academic programs, we also provide material support to our learners, in the form of resources, services, and financial aid. You can learn more about how we help our lerners achieve educational success in our learner experience hub.
Bryan O’Neill – Perseverance Pays Off
When Bryan O’Neill set his sights on becoming a nurse, he faced a daunting challenge: seven rejections from different nursing schools. But for Bryan, a Nightingale College alumnus (Class of December 2024), giving up was never an option.
“Failure happens,” he says, “but learning how to overcome and adapt makes you a better nurse—and a better parent.”
A former firefighter from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Bryan transitioned to nursing as a second career to better support his family, which includes his wife, a physician assistant, and their three young children—twin 3-year-olds and a 7-year-old daughter. After earning his LPN and working for six years, Bryan chose Nightingale’s online RN program for its flexibility, allowing him to balance work, school, and family life.
“The online portion really allowed me to excel,” he shares, noting how it eliminated the commute and gave him autonomy over his schedule. Bryan’s determination shone through as he graduated with honors and passed the NCLEX on his first try in February 2025. He credits Nightingale’s NCLEX coaching and rigorous coursework for preparing him. “The coaches were fantastic, and the courses helped me think critically as a nurse,” he says.
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Today, Bryan is thriving as the lead esophageal manometry nurse at Northwest Digestive Center in Post Falls, Idaho, where he manages digestive workups for patients with conditions like GERD and swallowing difficulties. He’s also taken on a new role in the ICU at a Level 2 trauma hospital, a testament to his standout resume and interview skills, which secured him the position over 40 other candidates. As an RN, Bryan enjoys greater autonomy and responsibility than he did as an LPN, educating patients and training new staff.
Bryan’s proudest moment is graduating with honors, a reflection of his hard work and study habits. “Grades aren’t everything, but I worked hard for that,” he says. His advice to aspiring nurses, particularly male nurses who remain a minority in the field, is to find their fit. “It’s okay to be the minority. Find the field that works for you—whether it’s ICU, ER, or OR—and do your best to help people along the way.”
During National Nurses Week, Bryan reminds us that perseverance, support, and a commitment to learning can open doors to a rewarding career. “Anybody can succeed at anything with enough time,” he says. “The possibilities are endless if you dedicate yourself… just keep going.”
Yuriko Perez – Excellence Against All Odds
Enduring personal struggles, a demanding career, and family responsibilities, Yuriko Perez achieved a personal milestone—graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Nightingale College in the spring of 2024. The 36-year-old’s journey to become a registered nurse began when she was a teen mom and still growing up as one of ten children with a single father.
Yuriko was 14 when she had her first baby. She began working in patient health care for the next decade before pursuing a nursing degree. However, the young mom struggled to balance time with her studies and the needs of her children. She drove more than 100 miles to Las Vegas almost every day to seek an education at a brick-and-mortar school. She says switching to Nightingale College, an online nursing school with strong staff support, and inspiration from her brother Rocky, who recently passed away from addiction, helped her persevere.
“My brother was my biggest motivator. He believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself,” Yuriko shared. “I kept his memory close to my heart during the toughest times. I also did it for my kids—I wanted them to know that no matter how hard life gets, we can always rise above it.”
Yuriko continues providing nursing care at a long-term health care facility, helping patients with Alzheimer’s and other chronic conditions. “I see everyone as my dad,” she said. “It’s not just about administering care; it’s about building relationships with patients. We’re like family.”
Today, she is married and proudly watching her four children excel in school and life. Her daughter Zahmara graduated from high school with an associate degree as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Yuriko is taking a break from studies to recharge, but plans to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner.
Learn how to balance being a parent and attending nursing school and achieve the desired success and education.
Her advice to anyone considering nursing school, especially those facing their own challenges, is clear: “It will be hard, but it will be worth it. Keep going one day at a time, and you’ll get there. Your dreams are within reach.”
Discover how hard nursing programs are and how to excel despite difficulties.
At Nightingale College, we empower learners from all walks of life with different needs and priorities to achieve their desired career through certified nursing education and the support system necessary for success. Our academic programs combine online instruction with in-person activities (supervised on-ground field experiences, seminars, or perceptorship experiences) to deliver high-quality education in the most accessible way. Beyond the continuous guidance and interest of our staff, our learners receive much-needed support through available resources, services, and scholarships.
Read more testimonials from our past alumni and learn what learning at Nightingale College is all about.
If you want to achieve your goals despite all obstacles, start your nursing journey with Nightingale College! Browse our academic programs and take your first step toward becoming a nurse!