Amy Johnson worked for Developmental Services as a DSP before she decided to go to nursing school. Below she explains what made her make the decision to return to school and why she chose to come back to DSDC to serve as an LPN nurse.

I had always planned to go back to school but the timing never seemed right. When my children graduated college and moved away from home I decided to continue my education. I spoke to several people who worked for DSDC and were going or had been in school. I learned about a grant called Tn. Reconnect that helped with tuition and DSDC allowed me to work around my school schedule.

  I knew I wanted to be a nurse a few years ago when my Mother’s health began to fail. The nurses not only cared for her physical needs but they were emotionally supportive for my entire family. I wanted to be part of this group of professionals that made a positive impact on people’s lives.

  Going back to school as an adult was challenging but also had some advantages. I think being older helped me be more disciplined when it came time to study. Having a good support system helped me more than anything. My husband was my study buddy and kept me motivated to always do my best.

  Working at DSDC as a direct support professional has been one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve had. It comes with challenges like any other job but, I can’t imagine doing anything else as I transition into this new position as an LPN. I love the people we support and the work we do makes a difference in people’s lives. I feel blessed to be able to continue to support and advocate for our clients’ health and wellbeing at DSDC as part of the nursing staff.