After giving birth to her son Gabriel, Janie Alicia Hartman, a Keiser University alumna and former adjunct instructor was thankful to welcome nursing student Kaylee Jones as part of her Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center care team.

“Seeing Kaylee walk in as my student nurse was amazing. It was a full circle.  She was so sweet, and I saw the compassion in her eyes,” said Hartman who graduated from Keiser University’s Lakeland Campus in 2022 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and went on to serve as a Keiser University Clinical Adjunct instructor while also fulfilling her current role as a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit registered nurse. “She jumped right in to care for both of us with such confidence and didn’t hesitate to assess him and me. I knew we both were in great hands, and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. As a student, she never faulted in her judgment or care. I was so proud to see she was still mastering her skills said Hartman who said she regularly emphasized the importance of compassionate care to learners. When I worked with her and her classmates, I told them I wanted to make sure even I would be at ease with them taking care of my children and me.  And I got to see her do it firsthand.  I had full confidence in her and I know other patients and their families will too,” said Hartman who is also mom to daughters Cherish, 17, and Estrella, 4.

Inspired to enter the field of healthcare because of her desire to nurture others, Hartman said she’s thankful for her current role. “I wanted to make a big difference for my patients or at least try my best to be there for them.  People trust us with their lives and families, and it means a lot that they put that trust in us every day.  I’ve gotten random hugs and even tears of fear when they have been given bad news.  Being that person they lean on to cry is unique and something I feel is the biggest compliment ever.  They trust me and knowing they do makes me night every day,” she said.

“When I saw that I would be taking care of Mrs. Hartman and her new baby, I was excited to show her the skills I had learned over the last three semesters, not just her, but all the instructors and professors at KU,” said Jones. “Their patience and dedication to teaching and guiding us through the challenging moments remind us why we chose this path. Thanks to their support, we’re prepared to take the next step and graduate, ready to make a meaningful difference in patient care,” she said.

The desire to motivate and inspire others also led Hartman to compete in the 2024 Miss Lakeland Petite pageant taking home the People Choice and Third Runner-Up titles. While sharing that she is a victim of domestic violence, she said she’s thankful to serve as an inspiration and that the painful experience has provided important insights. “I’m here to show all women that they are beautiful and strong. I’ve drawn off of it to realize it helps me see small things as a nurse that others may overlook.  It helps me assist patients who have fears, anxiety, or any mental disorder with more ease and be there for them, especially when others don’t understand.  I’ve had so many patients say, ‘thank you’ because I caught on to their struggles and I helped them,” she smiled.

Keiser University’s FastTrack Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is offered for students beginning their first professional nursing program, in a format that allows students to complete the program of study in four semesters (after general education credits and prerequisites are evaluated and/or completed). Graduates will be prepared to provide compassionate, patient-centered, culturally competent nursing care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a variety of settings, using evidence-based knowledge and skills related to wellness, health promotion, illness, disease management, and end-of-life care to improve healthcare outcomes. They will practice in partnership with patients as members and leaders of interprofessional healthcare teams, utilizing the most current healthcare technologies. Successful completion of this program qualifies graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

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After giving birth to her son Gabriel, Janie Alicia Hartman, a Keiser University alumna and former adjunct instructor was thankful to welcome nursing student Kaylee Jones as part of her Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center care team.

Janie Alicia Hartman won the 2024 Miss Lakeland Petite pageant’s People’s Choice Award and was Third Runner-Up.