3 minute read
Inspire Magazine 2021
by adminscff
Romero Follows Passion for Patient Care
Virginia Villegas Romero ‘20 knew she wanted to enter the nursing field and experience firsthand the gratitude of patients under her care. Through tenacity and commitment, she overcame challenges, built an impressive academic resume and in 2020 accomplished her goal of becoming a registered nurse (RN).
Virginia wasn’t initially able to enroll in nursing when she started college in 2014, but with generous scholarship funding available, she didn’t want to put her education off. She forged ahead and earned a four-year degree from SCF in health services administration.
“The professors were always very helpful toward me, and the Foundation helped me out a lot with paying for school so I didn’t have to worry about things financially,” Romero said.
While earning her bachelor’s degree, Virginia also completed an advanced technical certificate in paralegal/legal assisting, maintaining a 3.8 GPA despite an ambitious course load and a full-time work schedule at her father’s lawn care business. She still felt called to a career in patient care, and in Fall 2018, she was accepted into the nursing program at SCF.
Virginia dove headfirst into her nursing studies and sought opportunities outside the classroom to learn and improve, such as volunteering at Manatee MemorialHospital. Nursing instructors Magdeleine Vasso and Bethany Tucker made a strong impression on Virginia as she progressed toward her goal.
Virginia Villegas Romero
“They motivated me, and they were able to see my potential as a student and as a nurse, and I really appreciated that about them,” Romero said.
Graduating in Spring 2020 was a challenge for new nurses all around the country as they immediately found themselves on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia notes that despite the added challenges she has encountered working in the COVID unit at Blake Medical Center, the pandemic has only strengthened her pride in helping and healing. Among the challenges she has risen to face are the isolation her patients experience in the COVID unit and the need to change into fresh personal protective equipment each time she comes in and out.
“The fact that I’m able to be there for them when their special ones can’t be—I know I’m not part of their family, but it almost feels like they are to me,” she said. “For them to see the work I’ve put in doing these tasks and to thank me, it doesn’t matter how many times I have to change out of the gown. It really touches my heart to be there for them.”
Romero isn’t done with her academic accomplishments. She finished her Bachelor of Science in nursing through SCF’s “Fast Track” program and enrolled this summer in a Master of Science in nursing—Family Nurse Practitioner program. She plans to complete the graduate program in 2024, with the goal of one day opening her own clinic.
