Jessica Prothe

Jessica Prothe is a transfer nursing education graduate student from Wheaton, IL

Hometown: Wheaton, IL

Year: Expected graduation: 2026

Undergraduate program: Nursing, NIU 2015 graduate

Transfer from: Elgin Community College 

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
Growing up, I did not have a clear view of what I wanted to be, and I tried out a few options before settling on nursing. Nursing is a second career for me. Before becoming a nurse, I was in retail management. NIU led me to this career endeavor. In 2006, I graduated from NIU with a bachelor’s degree in textiles, apparel and merchandising. However, working in retail wasn’t the perfect fit, so I didn’t spend much time there. After looking at many options, I decided that nursing was what I wanted to pursue. So, I started at Elgin Community College and obtained an associate degree in nursing in 2012. In 2015, I received a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Now, I am back at NIU working toward a master's degree in nursing education. Being back at NIU is awesome, and I love it.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am a graduate nursing student pursuing a master's degree in nursing education. After obtaining a nursing license in 2012, I worked as a front-line nurse. After spending many years at the bedside, I wanted to teach nursing, so I am pursuing a master's degree in nursing education. I aim to teach undergraduate nurses and foster students' entry into nursing.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
It has been amazingly pleasant to learn from the faculty at NIU. They have solid educational and academic backgrounds, and many are also involved in leadership, equality and research.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I have connected with many students, and I am happy to say that NIU has graced me with many new and old friendships. As mentioned, I am working on my master’s degree, and my undergraduate degree is from NIU. I graduated from NIU in 2006 and am still friends with many of the students I met at NIU. I met some of the most influential people in my life at NIU. As a graduate student at NIU, I have made many new friends, mentors and advisors. Many of my professors have taken the time to mentor me, and the mentorship has continued even after the courses have ended. I couldn't be more grateful to the faculty at NIU, as they genuinely care and have spent time fostering my development.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I am on the research committee for the School of Nursing, and last semester, I was a graduate assistant. I have had a great experience with both. These experiences have allowed me to work alongside NIU faculty and gain insight into what it is like to be a nurse educator.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you succeed? And how?
The writing center has been highly beneficial, and I am grateful for their services. I also use the NIU library and academic databases regularly. I write for academic and educational purposes and have been published twice. I wouldn’t have accomplished this without the resources NIU provides students.

Are there transfer-specific resources, offices or services that you use to help you succeed at NIU?
Yes, NIU offers many resources for transfer students.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
I am fortunate to have more than one favorite professor, and every professor I have taken a course with at NIU has been a favorite of mine. I have had all positive experiences with the faculty at NIU.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Yes, most definitely. Attending class regularly is the key to academic success.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
I am not on campus much now as a graduate student, but I remember NIU’s campus well. I love the library and the area that surrounds it. As an undergraduate, I spent countless hours there. NIU’s campus is really beautiful, and I miss seeing it daily as I did as an undergraduate student.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
College is an investment, and making a thorough decision about where to attend is essential. Selecting the right college is important because the right college will lead you to the path you want to pursue. Research facilitates answers to questions. Questions must be asked when deciding on a college to attend. What do you want to study? Where do you want to go to school? What size school do you want to attend? How much are you willing to spend on education? Asking and answering these questions will lead students to the right college.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education is essential because it is the door to where I want to go and always has been. Initially, I wanted to be a retail buyer, and having a college education is beneficial in merchandising. Without a degree in merchandising, that door is closed. The same goes for nursing; a nursing degree is needed to be a nurse. Becoming a nurse educator requires even more education. I never wanted to be excluded from opportunities; my college education has always been a path to open doors.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I prioritize and make lists. I don’t have much free time, and I plan and utilize all my time. I have also combined my passion and purpose with my work, which helps it feel less like a “job” and more like a purpose. I also don’t waste time, and by planning and prioritizing, I accomplish my priorities.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I regularly check my NIU email, read the Weekly Scroll and NIU Today, and follow NIU on LinkedIn and Facebook.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
Relaxing is not easy for me. I am constantly on the go and, unfortunately, sometimes experience burnout, which is common in nursing. Since I know I can easily experience burnout, I work hard to catch it before it occurs.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
Currently, my job is being a graduate nursing student, a nurse-patient advocate and a mom to two young daughters. My life intertwines with nursing, and I like to attend nursing conferences in my free time. I am active with the American Nurses Association (ANA) and try to participate in ANA events. The ANA is an influence of mine, and I am a new member. I advocate for women’s health, and the ANA recently ran a new member highlight on me that highlight amplified my advocacy work. I am very grateful to the ANA and couldn’t be happier with my ANA membership. I mention this as NIU is how I was introduced to the ANA. I attended ANA-Illinois Student Political Action Day with NIU. We had a great day, and I have continued to attend ANA events ever since. I am also a member of the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses (ISPAN). I have co-authored two articles for ISPAN’s nursing journal, Plastic and Aesthetic Nursing (PAN). I enjoy writing for PAN, and I aspire to be a regular author for PAN. Much of what I write for PAN stems from my graduate studies at NIU. My first two articles, “Breast Implant Surgery: An Overview of the Risks and Health Complications” and “Increasing the Safety of Patients Undergoing Breast Implant Surgery Using an Electronic Health Record Enhancement,” evolved from NUR 604, Evidence-Based Practice, and NUR 706, Informatics. I co-authored these articles with three other graduate nursing students from NIU. We collaborated in NUR 604 and embarked on an assigned research paper. Dr. Jie Chen facilitated the course and encouraged us to write an abstract for the research paper and attend the Graduate Nurses Student Academy (GNSA) conference. I did both, and these endeavors led to my submitting a manuscript to PAN. Without Dr. Chens’s encouragement, the two articles I co-authored would not have happened. I am thankful to Dr. Chen, who has been integral to all my academic success and encouraged me to write. I love writing and consider it both a hobby and an academic endeavor. Writing allows me to convey and disseminate information to the nursing profession. Most of what I write involves the health complications of breast implant surgery, which is a current hot topic and my research focus.