Al Mitchell
The way someone treats you or your loved ones can stick with you forever. The way the staff at Mercy St. Vincent’s Hospital treated Al Mitchell’s father after an accident is the reason he pursued nursing. This year, he was named a Barbara Rood Award recipient.
When Mitchell was 17 in the year before his senior year at St. John’s Jesuit High School, his father was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. While in the hospital, his father was transferred to a neurological floor and there was a nurse named Greg. Greg would come into the room and take excellent care of Mitchell’s father. “The care, attention to detail, empathy and love Greg showed my family and I made me want to be all that Greg was as a caregiver,” Mitchell said.
As he was looking for where to pursue his nursing degree, Mitchell said he didn’t choose Owens, Owens chose him. “I was ready to give up on my dream and the staff of dedicated professionals welcomed me in and helped cultivate my dream into a reality,” he said.
During his time at Owens, Mitchell felt a sense of belonging. “The faculty made sure this is what I wanted and they could see my passion for it,” he said. He was also a member of the National Student Nurses’ Association.
After graduation, Mitchell plans to enjoy time with his family before looking for a job in an emergency room. Eventually, he wants to return to school to pursue his bachelor’s degree.
Learn more about the Registered Nurse Program >>
Learn more about the School of Nursing and Health Professions programs and certificates >>
Published May 2023