When Diamonique Hayburn first arrived in Monmouth from Detroit, she brought with her a lifelong dream of working in health care. Today, thanks to Sandburg’s comprehensive nursing program, she stands as a testament to the opportunities available through career and technical education.

“I feel like nursing is a calling, rather than just a career choice,” says Hayburn, 33, who has steadily advanced through Sandburg’s nursing education pathway. “It takes a special type of person to care for people.”

Hayburn’s journey into health care began at a young age when her sister required a liver transplant at just 12 years old. The experience left an indelible impression.

“I saw how the nurses were very comforting, very encouraging, very supportive,” she recalls. “Not just from the skills they provide, but a wholesome type of care. It made me think, ‘I can do this. This is what I really want to do.’”

Though she initially dreamed of becoming a pediatrician, Hayburn chose nursing as her path forward. After earning her GED and settling in the Galesburg-Monmouth area, she waited until age 25 to fully pursue her nursing ambitions.

“I realized nursing was something I’m just going to go full force with, whether I have to start at the bottom and work my way up,” she explains.

Hayburn’s educational progression through Sandburg has been methodical and purposeful. She began by completing prerequisites and earned her certified nursing assistant (CNA) credential in 2018. She then entered the licensed practical nursing (LPN) program in 2019, graduating in 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic.

After working as an LPN in pediatric home health care for several years, Hayburn returned to Sandburg to complete her associate degree in nursing this spring, which will allow her to become a registered nurse (RN) after passing the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Even before crossing the stage for graduation, Hayburn had secured a position at OSF St. Mary Medical Center on its medical-surgical floor.

Hayburn credited Sandburg’s faculty for their pivotal role in her success throughout her educational journey. She singled out former LPN instructor Stacy Bainter for her rigorous-yet-effective teaching approach.

“Stacy was tough as nails, but the one thing about her, she was going to make sure you knew your stuff, and she was going to get you prepared to be out there in the field,” Hayburn said. “She was really going to push you when she knew that you can do better.”

Hayburn also praised RN instructors Tina Braun-Smith and Cindy Koepp for their nurturing-yet-thorough approach. “They make you feel like you’re human. They make you feel like it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you own up to them,” Hayburn said. “I really love how they have molded us into RNs and prepared us to go out there in the job field with confidence.”

Sandburg’s nursing program also helped facilitate Hayburn’s employment opportunities. The college hosted career fairs where organizations conducted on-site interviews, and instructors provided job references for their graduates.

“My instructors went out of their way to find job fairs outside of Sandburg, outside of Galesburg, just in case anyone was interested,” she notes. “But you have to do your part too.”

Balancing education with family responsibilities presented challenges for Hayburn, who has three children: a 3-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 14-year-old “bonus baby.” She appreciated how the RN program faculty acknowledged those realities.

“My instructors know there are situations where I might have to miss class because one of my kids is sick, and they work around that,” Hayburn said. “I feel like my instructors understood that we have lives outside of nursing school, and I feel like that played a big role in my success.”

Hayburn plans to continue her education and eventually become a family nurse practitioner.

“I’m ready for the next chapter,” Hayburn said.

For those considering a health care career, Hayburn’s journey showcases how Sandburg’s nursing pathway provides affordable, accessible education that allows students to earn credentials while advancing their careers one step at a time.