Meet Taretta
Taretta Nimmons wants to become a registered nurse. She’s working toward that goal by learning all she can about the healthcare field while building credentials along the way.
Taretta – who has already completed OCtech’s Patient Care Technician program – will complete her Medical Assisting coursework this summer. In the fall, she will begin prerequisite work toward an Associate Degree in Nursing.
“When I get into the nursing program, it will just refresh my memory on some of the things I’ve learned and done,” she said. “Both programs are great because you gain a lot of knowledge and experience.”
She earned her Certified Nursing Assistant credentials at Cope Area Career Center, and after graduation, left for the University of South Carolina Beaufort to major in nursing.
“I was excited about leaving my hometown and starting a new experience,” Taretta said. “During the first semester, things took a turn. My grades were low, and my professors were no help. My hopes of earning a college degree and having a career went down the drain.”
A family member encouraged her not to give up.
“She was attending OCtech and bragged about how much she loved it,” Taretta said. “I did some research and decided to give it a try. Within a couple of weeks, I fell in love with the school. The instructors were helpful, and I was doing well in my classes. It’s been a great experience.”
Taretta said having a sick father motivated her to enter the healthcare field.
“Seeing him sick gave me the passion to help others feel better and be healthier,” she said. “All of the sleepless nights and hard work are going to pay off. The healthcare industry is growing. There is a high demand for healthcare workers.”
While COVID-19 may have changed the way she and her classmates learned last semester, Taretta said her instructors worked hard to keep them on task and moving forward in the program.
“I don’t feel like we missed anything,” she said. “For people who didn’t have Wi-Fi at home, they had it on campus for us to use. Whenever I emailed my instructors, they replied within an hour. Even though all of this was unexpected, the school was on it.”
In addition to continuing online work, Taretta’s class is meeting for labs one day a week this summer, with social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines in place.
“I like OCtech because as you’re learning, you’re getting to know people,” she said. “Your classmates aren’t just your classmates – they become like family. Every program at OCtech is great. By the time you finish, you are work-ready.”
