Hayley Fenton, RN

Hayley Fenton, RN received three job offers in her final semester of the Nursing bachelor’s degree program at Russell Sage College. 

It was a great feeling as she started her career, she said. 

Her interest in Nursing emerged as she cared for family members, then worked as a home health aide. She earned an associate degree, then transferred to Sage. 

“I liked the community,” she said, “and how small it is.” 

She also appreciated Sage’s resources for commuters, like a dedicated lounge where she was able to study or relax between classes. 

In addition to specific Nursing skills, Hayley said her classes and professors helped her confidently negotiate among job offers. 

Two offers came from hospital units where she had capstone clinical experiences.  She accepted one of those offers, on a medical-surgical floor at Albany Medical Center. 

Typically, Nursing students work one-on-one alongside an experienced nurse, known as a preceptor, during a capstone. Not all Nursing programs require a capstone, Hayley explains, but she’s glad that Sage did. 

“My nurse made sure that by the end of it, I was able to take on her full caseload. It prepared me very well. ” 

Hayley finished her degree requirements in December 2022; then, Professor Jill Ensminger helped her come up with a study plan for the NCLEX licensing exam. “There’s a lot of support systems here, and I know it won’t end when I graduate,” she said at the time.  She became licensed in May 2023.

“I learn something new everyday,” Hayley said later, a few months into her new career.  “After my capstone, I knew I couldn’t pass this job up.”