Driven by Purpose: W student balances motherhood and a dream career
With any large undertaking, there is always a “why.”
For Bernesha Mclemore, graduate nursing student at Mississippi University for Women, her reason for everything is her autistic son.
“The reason that I want to step away from bedside nursing and go the nurse practitioner route is to be more present for my son,” she said. “Working 12-hour shifts as a nurse wasn’t really feasible for a mom, a working mom, caring for a child who is autistic. He does require more time from me, both as a person and as a mom, but also taking him to speech therapy, taking him to occupational therapy – he just requires more. I just needed to be more present in his life.”
When deciding on a school, word-of-mouth from past W graduates led Mclemore to The W. She did her homework, talking to other graduates, and she found a universal sentiment: “it’s challenging but worth it.”
“They said it was hard, but nothing discouraging,” she said. “They encouraged me, saying, ‘Yes, it’s hard. Yes, you’re going have to work. But it is so worth it in the end.’ It has definitely held true to that.”
Another selling point of The W’s program was that it was only a year, which was perfect for Mclemore, who lives in Columbus.
As Mclemore prepares to receive her Master of Science in Nursing degree during summer commencement, she reminisces about the path to this moment.
Growing up in rural Lumberton, Mississippi, she witnessed first-hand the need for rural health care.
“We would see people pass away from chronic illnesses, and no one ever knew the root cause, or the why, or how to help them or treat them, and it’s just something that I always wanted to do,” Mclemore said.
Ultimately, she would like to work in a rural area, at a family practice, and be the practitioner she always dreamed of being.
Her time at The W, though short, has her well on the way to achieving that goal thanks to the dedication of the faculty in the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
One faculty member who stands out to Mclemore is Dr. Sueanne Davidson, professor of graduate nursing.
“She has left a lasting impression on me, and I know I can speak for the rest of my cohort as well,” Mclemore said. “You can tell she loves what she does. She pours into us. She makes sure we know exactly what it is she’s teaching. If we don’t understand it, she’ll go back and simplify it and make sure that we have all the tools we need. She’s also so passionate about teaching and putting out the best nurse practitioners, holding The W to that high standard of putting out the best of the best.”
Mclemore offered some encouraging words for those considering pursuing an MSN degree – perseverance.
“You have to make the best of it. Get connected with your cohort, because that will make or break your time here. You spend a lot of time with these people on the third floor, you spend a lot of time with faculty as well,” she said. “Just know that you have an end goal, and stick to it. Yes, it’s hard. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I think, being on the other side now, I can say, ‘Oh, maybe it wasn’t so bad.’”
Mclemore will receive her degree during The W’s summer commencement ceremony Friday, July 25, at 11 a.m. in Rent Auditorium, Whitfield Hall, on The W’s campus.