Owens Graduate Viengmany Chose Nursing to Help People
Alyssa Viengmany knows some of her classmates in the Registered Nurse Program at Owens Community College have grand stories that explain why they chose a future in nursing.
Viengmany doesn’t have that type of story. Her reasoning for wanting to be a nurse is much simpler.
“I just picked a career that I knew I would be helping people,” Viengmany said. “I enjoy in any way, shape or form helping people, and I thought what other way and in the biggest sense than nursing.’
No matter the reason, Viengmany has made the most of her time at Owens. She will graduate in spring 2025 with her associate degree, and she was also named a Barbara Rood Student Choice Award recipient.
Viengmany, of Oregon, Ohio, said winning the award was unexpected.
“It’s nice to feel acknowledged and appreciated for doing what I do every day without actually anticipating anything coming from it,” Viengmany said. “It’s nice to be appreciated by my peers. It means a lot.”
Viengmany started as a nursing technician at Toledo Hospital three years ago. She is currently a nurse’s apprentice at the hospital, which has given her a deeper dive into what nursing is.
“I work closely with the nurses now and I’m very close to being one myself, there’s such a different universe. There’s a lot that goes unsaid with what nurses do every day, no matter what unit or field,” Viengmany said. “You’re playing the role of everything, which is difficult.”
Viengmany considered going to other larger schools in the area, and she said what separates Owens is the smaller “intimate” class sizes.
“I truly exceled in a class of 25 much more than I would have with 80 to 100,” Viengmany said. “That was something very beneficial to Owens. You can continue your education anywhere, but this was a great platform to start from.”
Viengmany has already accepted a nursing position in the medical-surgical unit at Toledo Hospital. That unit focuses on caring for patients with a variety of medical challenges and those preparing for or recovering from surgical procedures. She’s excited for the challenge and knows Owens helped prepare her for whatever she’ll face.
“It’s fast-paced and all the opportunities to learn, instead of being on a specialty unit where you only see that one thing. I like learning and continuing to learn and this is a great opportunity to gain a vast amount of knowledge,” Viengmany said.
Published April 2025