Following her graduation from UNC Greensboro School of Nursing (SON), Nykeria Spellmon ’24 easily secured a job doing exactly what she wanted to do. The clinical rotations that were part of her education gave her valuable contacts and unparalleled experience in her desired field of maternal care.
Early Love of Nursing
As a child, Spellmon knew she wanted a career in healthcare but didn’t realize she wanted to be a nurse until she participated in the Health Sciences Academy, a high school curriculum program preparing students for healthcare careers. There, she shadowed a pediatric nurse, helping her care for a child with diabetes.
“The nurse was so nurturing and caring, and she really loved her job,” recalls Spellmon. “The qualities I saw in that nurse really piqued my interest, and I could envision myself in her place.”
Spellmon went on to earn her associate’s degree in science at Pitt Community College to prepare her for the next step in her education.
An Active Student
Spellmon’s best friend was already at UNCG and had shared many stories about her great experience. Spellmon applied to several universities, including UNCG, and was accepted by them all.
“But researching other nursing programs, it seemed like UNCG had a lot of things other programs didn’t have,” she says.
She particularly liked UNCG’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion and the fact that, unlike other programs, UNCG nursing students aren’t required to first be a Certified Nursing Assistant to enroll. Receiving a scholarship through the Guarantee Scholars Program sealed the deal.
At UNCG, Spellmon immersed herself in activities. She was vice president of the Association of Nursing Students, working to enhance the nursing community through on-campus activities and setting up meetings with local hospitals to connect students with externship opportunities.
She was a cohort captain in the Guarantee Scholars Program, acting as a peer mentor to help incoming nursing students acclimate to campus. She also participated in the Bronze and Silver Leadership Challenge and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Career Prep
After graduation, Spellmon earned a job at Cone Health as a registered nurse in the maternity assessment unit.
The department handles a wide range of pregnancy related conditions and acts as a triage for labor and delivery. “Some of the people who come in are in pain,” says Spellmon. “I love helping them – knowing they are going home feeling better and with tools to help them.”
Spellmon’s first clinical was at Cone Health. “During a shift, the nurse let me talk to the managers, so they could get to know me more,” says Spellmon. “That helped me land a job as a certified nursing assistant.”
Networking wasn’t the only thing that convinced Cone Health to hire her. Spellmon’s education and experience prepared her well for the unpredictable and fast-paced environment of the maternity assessment unit.
Spellmon recalls learning how to perform fetal monitoring in UNCG School of Nursing’s simulation lab during her maternal child class.
“We learned about different maternity disorders that can happen with labor and postpartum,” she says. “Getting exposed to these in the simulation lab and doing those drills helped inform my practice as a nurse because now I see those conditions in my career.”
She also values her experiences during the Leadership Education and Diversity (LEAD) in Maternal Child Health (MCH) project led by UNCG Assistant Professor Lisa Anders. In the program, “We did so much that is beneficial to my career, like the postpartum hemorrhage drill,” says Spellmon. “We don’t like to see that happen, but if it does, I know what to do.”
Her achievements in campus activities also helped prepare her for a career in healthcare. “The personal development I did through the leadership programs at UNCG helped me become the person I am today, and they ultimately helped me become a better nurse,” says Spellmon.
Spellmon is just getting started. She says she is currently deciding whether to return to school to become a clinical nurse educator or an advanced practice nurse. With UNCG’s increasing offerings, it’s high on her list to pursue her graduate degree there.
Gratitude from a First-Gen Grad
Spellmon, who is a first-generation college graduate, says she cried on graduation day during the first-generation shout-out.
“It’s not easy being the first person in your family to go to school,” she says. “My mom was a single mother, and she did everything she could, so I would have the tools to go to university.” Spellmon may have been the first, but she won’t be the last. Her younger sister now attends East Carolina University.
Spellmon has some advice to share with incoming college students, especially SON students.
“Soak up every opportunity you can. Get involved on campus and in the student nurse program, so you can get to know people in your profession,” she says. “And lean on your professors and ask them for help. They want you to do your best.”
Story written by Jessica Harlan, AMBCopy LLC
Photography provided by Nykeria Spellmon, UNCG Alumna
