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“I realized this is what I was born to do.” 

Jennifer Wright was already established as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) when she found the nursing path that was right for her. She wants other nursing students to know that if they’re unsure which area of practice is right for them: it’s okay.

That message was a focus of Jennifer’s recent visit back to 91��Ƭ�� to speak to practical nursing students. “I was blown away by the labs and lecture rooms,” she says about today’s LPN learning facilities. “It’s a beautiful space for students to relax and focus. It’s great to see the evolution. We didn’t have that in 2010.”

Jennifer, who grew up in Sexsmith, studied practical nursing on the NWP campus before the program was even offered. Northern Lakes College offered the LPN program at that time, running classes out of a portable at NWP. Jennifer arrived in the program after a year studying education, which didn’t feel like a fit although it fulfilled her desire to work in a helping profession.

It was a chance conversation in a hockey rink that opened her eyes to nursing. “I played hockey for years growing up,” Jennifer says. It was in the dressing room after a ladies' league game that she overheard two LPNs talking about how they loved their work. When Jennifer looked into it, she realized that nursing could combine elements of being an educator with the opportunity to help people.

At the beginning of her nursing career, Jennifer worked in outpatient nursing and discovered the many areas where LPNs can work. When a local dermatologist, Dr. Christine Malcolm, needed a nurse/assistant, Jennifer moved into the new area with enthusiasm.

“It was a perfect fit,” Jennifer says. “We worked so well together and I learned so much from her.” Jennifer learned and assisted as the physician expanded into cosmetic procedures, and gradually came to that realization that this is the work she was meant to do. She’s now been a nurse in cosmetic dermatology for over 10 years.

“I didn’t even think about cosmetic nursing when I was in school,” Jennifer recalls. 

“That’s what I wanted to tell students – keep your eyes open. Do your research, talk to people. There are so many opportunities for us.”

She advises LPN students that it’s fine to not know what area they want to work in. “You realize by doing and seeing. There are so many specialties. Your path may change – and it usually changes into such a beautiful thing.”

Jennifer finds her work highly rewarding. “I absolutely love making people feel fantastic,” she says, from consultation to treatment. And while her practice focuses on aesthetics, Jennifer is a nurse first and foremost. When she sees medical issues in the course of her practice, she’s able to point patients in the right direction to get the care they need. She also manages the clinic where she’s employed, Rejuvaderm Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser. “LPNs never used to be in management,” she notes, and adds that she’ll soon be continuing her education with some business courses. 

As a mother of four, Jennifer is experiencing a full-circle moment; her oldest recently graduated from high school and hopes to attend NWP’s instrumentation program. She’s grateful that NWP continues to add new education options.

“It keeps professionals here, which can only benefit us,” she says. “I love that it’s always growing.” You could say the same about Jennifer. She feels lucky to have found her nursing path, and to have the opportunity to continue learning and growing in her chosen profession.