HCTC Success Story: Ellen Wright

The Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Chief Nursing Officer Ellen Wright attributes her success to her start at Hazard Community and Technical College.

After graduating from Fleming-Neon High School, she attended Letcher County Vocational School s first LPN program. That is when I found my love for nursing and wanted to pursue more education and advance my degree in nursing, she said. After graduating from HCTC in 1988, she went on to receive a master s degree in Nursing from the University of Kentucky and Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

The education I received at HCTC was excellent, my classroom and clinical experience adequately prepared me for my new role as a registered nurse upon graduation. The faculty is exceptional, she said.

I continue to work with several of my former instructors in various capacities. One of them was my preceptor in the FNP program. It is evident they have made a life-long commitment to enhance nursing in our region. They have always taken extra time to work with students and healthcare institutions to provide the best clinical experience possible, Mrs. Wright said.

I would absolutely recommend HCTC to others. The atmosphere and environment is one of a large family working together to see that each and every student succeeds, she said, noting that her son also decided to attend the same school as his mother. My son realized he could achieve his goals and have a successful career at home for a very affordable price.

Mrs. Wright has a very rewarding profession and job. I love what I do and the fact that I never had to leave my home, family and friends is the best part.

For other considering the same career she has chosen, Mrs. Wright noted, Healthcare offers some of the best paying positions in our region. There will always be a need for healthcare workers with an aging population. ARH just announced a $47 million dollar expansion project at the Hazard facility that will provide an additional 150 healthcare related jobs. ARH also recently purchased Mary Breckenridge Hospital.

Ellen and her husband Timothy Wright have been married for 29 years and reside in Neon in Letcher County. She is very active in at Seco Freewill Baptist where she teaches a teen-aged Sunday school class and she is part of a clown troupe, The Sonshine Kids. The clown troupe consists of two adults and 10 kids from 6- 14 years of age. She also is active in the Ignite Youth Ministry. I believe investing in our youth yields one of the greatest returns of any investment one could make. They need a strong foundation of values and support from family and friends, she said.

Anyone else wanting to become an HCTC success story can start now by enrolling. Call (606) 487-3102 about registering for classes. Potential students can be reminded by Mrs. Wright s words: HCTC offered me a quality education close to home. Thanks to HCTC, I was able to achieve my goals and dreams and never leave home. We are very fortunate to have HCTC in our back door.