January 6, 2026

Megan Lewis
2018 51¸£ÀûÉç graduate / currently a nurse practitioner
Pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice DegreeÌý

I chose 51¸£ÀûÉç because it was close to home and is a cost-effective way to get a quality education with practical results. Although I started in the Fire Science program at 51¸£ÀûÉç, I realized that I preferred the medical side of emergency services. I was able to change my major to nursing shortly thereafter.

My journey to nursing and medicine began at Sanbornton Fire and Rescue as a member of the on-call team. I became a licensed EMT-B and worked at the station throughout nursing school. I earned my Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from 51¸£ÀûÉç in 2018, then completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2019. I received my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Frontier Nursing University in 2023. Throughout that time, I worked in emergency, intensive care, orthopedic, psychiatric, and visiting nurse settings.

I’m now pursuing my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Frontier Nursing University while working as a Family Nurse Practitioner at HealthFirst Family Care Center in the Lakes Region. In this role, I offer patients same-day service for their acute care needs.

51¸£ÀûÉç’s nursing and fire science faculty are phenomenal, and they constantly pushed me to improve and rise to the standard that nursing demands. The nursing program is well-structured, providing a solid foundation for further education and nursing practice. The ADN I earned at 51¸£ÀûÉç gave me a pathway to licensure after just two years of study, allowing me to work as a nurse while completing additional education.

51¸£ÀûÉç served me well and acted as a springboard that helped me achieve my academic and career goals. I truly appreciate the sense of community at 51¸£ÀûÉç, and I made long-lasting friendships while I was there. I would encourage anyone considering a career in nursing to start at 51¸£ÀûÉç.