On May 21, 2026, Arizona College of Nursing (AZCN) had the amazing opportunity to host our first-ever, cross-campus livestream event featuring Jen Hamilton, a Labor and Delivery Nurse, content creator, and #1 New York Times Best Selling Author. With over 100 questions submitted across our 24 campuses, the conversation was honest and inspiring.
Whether you are in your first semester or about to cross the finish line, Jen’s message was a reminder that you are not only surviving nursing school but preparing for a fulfilling career.
Finding Your “Why”
Jen’s journey into nursing school began when she was just 5 years old where she would watch her mother study anatomy books at the kitchen table with the dream of becoming a nurse. At such a young age, Jen didn’t see “complex pathophysiology,” but merely her mom making people feel better when they were sick.
“My mom wanted to be a nurse, so she enrolled in the local community college, and I got to watch her study,” Jen explained. “I always say how much I learned at 5 years old, looking through anatomy books. When I would ask her what a nurse is, she would tell me that she was going to do for other people what she does for me whenever I’m sick.”
Across AZCN campuses, it is important to highlight that many of our students can relate to Jen’s mom’s journey through nursing school as 50% of our students are also parents. Having watched her mom transition careers and become a nurse, Jen remembered how hard it was for her to balance her studies with her family. Still, her mom incorporated her in as much as possible and because of this, offered an encouraging perspective.
“You can have dreams as an adult, after you may have already had a career doing something else,” she said. “[I]t’s never too late to chase your dreams. Also, when you have these little babies watching you, it helps them to be able to reach their own goals and their dreams for themselves.”
That idea that you can see yourself in someone else’s journey and be inspired by it was felt across the room during the event. One student, who has been following Jen since her early days of “swaddling chickens and cats,” described the event as a “much needed breath of fresh air.”
“I’ve been worried, and like, can I do it?” Crystal Munson, a semester 4 student at Arizona College of Nursing’s Phoenix campus, shared, specifically noting that the intensity of her pathophysiology class has been a source of self-doubt. “I think this is what I needed…[Jen] was why I had faith in myself, or had the motivation for myself to even apply, so I am really grateful.”
That feeling was echoed by many other students who described having experienced everything from “heart palpitations” to genuine excitement to see Jen speak right in front of them. The event served as a great reminder for students that while the coursework can be challenging, you are part of a community that understands what it is like to go through nursing school and is full of individuals who are there to support you.
When asked about her own path, which has moved from the ER to Labor and Delivery, she reminded students that it is totally okay if your career path isn’t a straight line. Sometimes, you find your calling by trying different things and simply being open to where your work takes you.
For another student, Jen’s advice has already inspired her to think outside of the box when it comes to her future career path.
“Initially I didn’t want to do OB, but just seeing her compassion, empathy, and just the way she talks and cares for her patients inspired me a lot.” explained Anahid Mensah, a semester 8 student at Arizona College of Nursing’s Tempe campus.
The Reality of Nursing School
We know that the parts of nursing school that include research papers, early morning exams, and the quick pace of the program can feel overwhelming. But Jen’s advice for making it through is to lean on your cohort.
“I feel like there is this level of camaraderie that you don’t get in any other place where there is this level of trauma bonding, right? You get with these people who have the same struggles, the same goals, and then when you are low, your friend is able to kind of pick you up and then when they are low, you can do the same thing,” Jen said.
Her mantra for even the hardest days is: Take it one day at a time.
“I think it’s about taking each day one day at a time and not getting overwhelmed by the week, the next month…[just] take it one day at a time.”
Advocacy and Growing Your Confidence
For students who may be struggling with the imposter syndrome that often comes with clinicals or being a new nursing graduate, Jen urged students to drop the need for perfection.
“I think one of the worst things you could do is expect perfection of yourself right away. Confidence doesn’t come right away. It comes when you prove to yourself that you can do it.”
She emphasized that advocacy is a skill that you must practice in order to get better at it. She even shared a story from her early days in the ER where she had to confront a senior nurse who was undermining her work by questioning her charting instead of trying to help her with the patient load.
“I [was] like, ‘do you see these 2 letters? These are the same letters behind your last name, and I would really appreciate it if we could work together…[T]his would go much better if you would work with me.’”
Her message was, if something feels weird, it probably is.
“When that moment comes, don’t hesitate to speak. The hardest part is just that first word where you are choosing to speak. The words will come, they might come out shaky, but if you allow yourself to push down that feeling, you are only going to do yourself a disservice later.”
Protecting Your Autonomy
According to a number of our students, one of the most impactful portions of the discussion with Jen was on the “promises” she makes to all her patients. These promises include:
I promise to be your advocate
I promise to listen and believe you
I promise to prioritize your safety and security
I promise to explain things so you can make decisions you feel good about
I promise to protect your bodily and decision-making autonomy
I promise to never keep secrets from you
Jen started developing these promises to her patients early in her career, and they have evolved with her and her experiences. Her promises were created to support her belief that patient and provider trust must be earned and not assumed. As a nurse, her role is more than just treating patients to make them feel better. She is also an advocate for every patient and there to provide them with all the evidence-backed options available to help them make the best decision for themselves and their care.
“I personally think that the things she says to her patients and how she is going to advocate for them in different ways is super important because a lot of patients don’t have people advocating for them,” Kinsey Richmond, a semester 7 student at Arizona College of Nursing’s Phoenix campus said regarding the event.
Within Jen’s promise to never keep secrets, Jen emphasized the importance of open communication. For example, if one of her patients had uncontrolled gestational diabetes, she shared how she would discuss potential complications.
“I will talk to them about what a shoulder dystocia looks like, because in a moment of shoulder dystocia, you are thinking about doing the maneuvers , you are thinking about how much time it’s been, and… it’s very hard to explain what is going on in the moment. So I want to pregame that moment and not keep secrets.”
She continued, “If a baby has [struggled] all day long on the monitor, I know that sometimes those babies don’t cry right away. So I’ll prepare people for, hey, I am expecting your baby won’t cry right away, and that’s okay.”
She also offered advice for navigating the “soul suckers” on a unit. In other words, the people with undeniable negative energy who you may be forced to interact with on your unit.
“There’s going to be some that drink from your own cup and you can be as nice and as encouraging and as loving to them as possible, and they can still spit in your face,” Jen said. “So don’t get your worth from that. There are going to be patients who do fill your cup, and you’re like, man, this is exactly why I do it. But those ones should fill your cup enough for when you have this other soul sucker, you can withstand that.”
“In nursing school, it can feel easy to get burnt out or feel like, am I cut out for this? Can I do it? So, seeing people on the other side who are not only succeeding but thriving, and she still is in love with what she does with no regrets, is inspiring. It gives you that boost that you need to keep going.” explained Brittini Larsen, a semester 6 student at Arizona College of Nursing’s Phoenix Campus.
When asked how she balances the heavy emotional weight of the job, Jen gave her signature answer: “Chickens”
Bedside Nursing and Social Media
When asked how her social media presence has affected her bedside care, Jen reflected on the fact that many people online and their recorded experiences have changed her opinions on things.
“Watching people explain what happened to them during their birth stories completely revolutionized the way that I care for my patients. You may recognize that like, oh, me calling you mama the whole time [is not] endearing, and that it [can] make someone feel like you don’t know [their] name. So, there are things that you may not think about that impact a patient’s experience.”
On the topic of HIPAA, she offered advice to students who want to share their own nursing journey online:
“Any story that you hear me tell on social media has been changed to keep people’s privacy.”
She emphasized that even the stories in her book were all true and things that she has experienced in the hospital, but she will combine patients together to make sure the real them is unidentifiable.
Jen’s Message for Student Parents and Closing Remarks
To the students who worry that they are prioritizing their studies over their children, Jen gave the perspective of what it was like to be that child watching her mom study to become a nurse.
“The fact that you are doing this for your kids makes you an even better mom…They see you working hard [and] they hopefully know that there is going to be an end to it.”
She ended the event with a final, encouraging thought: “One day, there’s going to be another mom who is thinking about going to nursing school, and you will be able to say, I did it, and you can too.”
Start Your Future in Nursing Today
If you’re considering a career as a registered nurse (RN), Arizona College of Nursing is here to help you pursue your dream. Our BSN program enables you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 3 years or less with qualifying transfer credits. We’ve helped hundreds of students to earn a BSN degree and enter the nursing profession – and we’re ready to support you on your path to becoming an RN.
Why Choose Arizona College of Nursing?
- Earn a BSN degree in 3 years or less with eligible transfer credits
- Campus locations throughout the US
- Night classes for general education courses
- Hybrid Online/In-Person format for general education classes
- Nursing education is all we do
- CCNE-Accredited Program*
- NCLEX-RN success coaches and exam preparation class
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
Discover Your Path to a Career in Nursing
Information in this post is accurate as of June 1, 2026.
*The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/). All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (https://www.abhes.org/), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency.