Megan Lewis
2018 LRCC graduate / currently a nurse practitioner
Pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree
I chose LRCC because it was close to home and is a cost-effective way to get a quality education with practical results. Although I started in the Fire Science program at LRCC, I realized that I preferred the medical side of emergency services. I was able to change my major to nursing shortly thereafter.
My journey to nursing and medicine began at Sanbornton Fire and Rescue as a member of the on-call team. I became a licensed EMT-B and worked at the station throughout nursing school. I earned my Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from LRCC in 2018, then completed my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2019. I received my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Frontier Nursing University in 2023. Throughout that time, I worked in emergency, intensive care, orthopedic, psychiatric, and visiting nurse settings.
I’m now pursuing my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Frontier Nursing University while working as a Family Nurse Practitioner at HealthFirst Family Care Center in the Lakes Region. In this role, I offer patients same-day service for their acute care needs.
LRCC’s nursing and fire science faculty are phenomenal, and they constantly pushed me to improve and rise to the standard that nursing demands. The nursing program is well-structured, providing a solid foundation for further education and nursing practice. The ADN I earned at LRCC gave me a pathway to licensure after just two years of study, allowing me to work as a nurse while completing additional education.
LRCC served me well and acted as a springboard that helped me achieve my academic and career goals. I truly appreciate the sense of community at LRCC, and I made long-lasting friendships while I was there. I would encourage anyone considering a career in nursing to start at LRCC.