By Zak Hoskins
Colleen Nicholson, one of the many nursing program graduates, says she is enjoying her career at Olympic Memorial Center.
She has been working as a registered nurse at the hospital ever since graduating in 2010.
Nicholson started her hospital career working as a transporter. With help from a grant awarded by the hospital, she started college in 2007. “The instructors were great and they pushed us to the brink,” she said.
Currently, Nicholson works in many areas of the hospital. The majority of her work is done as a pediatric nurse, but she floats from pediatric to med-surgery, telemetry, and post-partum.
“Colleen has done really well. She has excellent critical thinking. She provides excellent care for adult and pediatric patients,” said Tanya Rutherford, director of medical, surgical and pediatrics and also a 1998 PC alumni with a masters through UW Bothell. “She has put many feathers in her hat at OMC.”
“Well, Colleen was a very hard working student that had a lot of life events happen during the program and persevered to become a successful nurse,” Director of the Nursing Program Kathy Craven said.
The events that Kraven referred to include the birth of Nicholson’s fourth son Liam, who ironically was born during the time when she had been training on the obstetrics ward at OMC.
Nicholson’s oldest son, Joe Sholinder, is currently deployed in Iraq and serves with the 82nd airborne division.
Nicholson, originally from British Columbia, held down two jobs while in the nursing program and managed to raise a family.
“I love Colleen. I think she was an incredible role model for all of the students,” Nursing Faculty Cheryl McCurdy said.
“She is always looking out for the best interests of the faculty and the students,” Associate Nursing Faculty, Bonnie Bulach, said.
Olympic Memorial Hospital employs numerous nursing program alumni. Nicholson is just one of many people that are now employed as RNs since graduating the nursing program at Peninsula College.
“A large number of our graduates over the years are working in all departments of the hospital including administration,” Craven said.