OFTC’s Yolanda Glover-Pitts Keeps Going to Reach Dreams of Becoming a Nurse
OFTC –Since she was a little girl, Yolanda Glover-Pitts had a knack for caring for others. And as she grew older her desire to help others never faded. So, when she thought about a future career, Pitts knew she wanted to become a nurse.
“I’ve always wanted to help and take care of people,” she said. “I used to gather up neighborhood kids and babysit, comb hair, bathe them, and just act as a mother before I ever became a mother.”
“I was always happy when asked to help someone,” she added, “so I knew if I became a nurse, most of my days would be spent helping others.”
Becoming a CNA
After becoming a mother at a young age, Pitts’ dreams of becoming a nurse were still alive, but it took a backseat to providing for her family. She graduated from high school and decided to go through a Certified Nurse Aid (CNA) Program offered through Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC), formerly Heart of Georgia Technical College, at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville.
She knew she could become a CNA in a short time and would easily find work which would allow her to support her family.
“I was a very young mother and didn’t make a lot of wise decisions,” Pitts shared, “and for that I had to start working at a young age to take care of my sons. I didn’t have a lot of choices back then but to go to work. When you don’t have a lot of resources, you must do what’s needed at the time, and taking care of my kids was my priority.”
In a matter of weeks, Pitts passed the Nurse Aide Exam and started working as a CNA at Central State Hospital. That was 25 years ago, and she’s been working there as a CNA, Health Service Technician, or Forensic Service Technician – Shift Supervisor ever since.
Becoming a Nurse
As the years passed, Pitt’s children grew and became more independent; and her dream of becoming a nurse continued to spark. And after a while, she decided it was finally time to do what she’d always known she was meant to do – become a nurse.
Since she was familiar with OFTC from when she obtained her CNA license, Pitts enrolled in classes to start working toward acceptance into the college’s Practical Nursing (PN) program.
“I decided to start taking classes, and at times it was only one class every now and then. But I was determined to start somewhere and that’s what I did,” she said.
Pitts took the required courses to compete for the PN program and was accepted. “It’s been awesome so far,” she said. “I enjoy learning from instructors who are willing to teach you what you need to know to be successful in the real world and are dedicated to making sure everybody gets the understanding of what they teach. Having instructors like this is what makes programs like this more enjoyable.”
As an older student who has been out of the classroom for 25 years, Pitts says there have been challenges, but she’s been able to work through them thanks to the supportive environment at OFTC. “I’m the older student in the class but my instructors and fellow students make me feel so good. They are very respectful and treat me like a big sister. I love them all and am happy to say we are one big family!”
From Dream to Reality
Looking back, Pitts wishes she had someone telling her to keep going when she was younger. “If you have a dream of being a nurse in high school, go ahead and get your CNA license, but don’t stop there… keep going,” she said. “Whatever you do, don’t stop; take a beak if needed but go back and keep going.”
Even though Pitts wishes she would have done some things differently, she recognizes God’s perfect timing in her life.
“As you get older you come to the realization that everything is about timing. Not yours, not mine, but God’s perfect timing,” she said. “I truly believe that everything I’ve been through in my life to get where I am today was worth the wait. I’m where I am now because of His grace and mercy. No matter how long it takes…. I will be a nurse one day, and it’s happening all in His time.”
Pitts has two semesters left and is scheduled to complete the program in August. Once completed, she’ll be prepared to take the NCLEX-PN Exam to obtain licensure and officially become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
For more info on how to become a nurse through one of OFTC’s Nursing Programs, visit the college’s website, OFTC.edu/departments/nursing/.
