March 3, 2025
In her senior year at Shawnee State University, Abigail Cochenour (Hometown: Beaver, Ohio) wanted to attend a university that was close to home with affordable tuition and a dedicated college experience. Finding herself at SSU, she knew a career in Nursing was the way to meet her desire to help people.
“Growing up I always wanted to help people and be a positive impact on everyone’s lives,” she said. “Nursing is a career where there are so many opportunities and it’s always growing and changing. Every day will bring a new challenge and a chance to learn. No day will be the same, which will always keep me on my toes, and I love that.”
Being able to build close connections with her classmates and professors through smaller class sizes, Cochenour feels the engagement she’s been able to build in her coursework has strengthened her desire to learn.
“It has allowed the learning to be more individualized and interactive,” she said. “The professors in the nursing program are simply amazing – they truly care and make the long lectures very engaging.”
Looking towards graduation, Cochenour hopes to continue her education to eventually become a Nurse Practitioner and work within her community. To others considering a career in Nursing, she encourages them to do it because they have a love of caring for others.
“Nursing is one of the hardest degrees there is but also will be the most rewarding,” she said.
The ADN program at SSU prepares students to enter the nursing workforce in just two years through hands-on coursework completed on campus and in regional hospitals. Students in the program learn from instructors who have worked in several nursing career paths, allowing them to share experience on all levels of nursing care.
To learn more about the Associate Degree of Nursing at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/adn.