Inaugural Phoenix cohort grad taps old career to be an RN informaticist

Nov 4, 2022

3 min Read

Rachel Stanko

Jim Herman, BSN’18, found his perfect career through the combination of two professions.

Herman was a member of the College of Nursing’s inaugural class of accelerated students in Phoenix. One of several men in the class, he represents a growing trend in the nursing profession, but that fact didn’t garner Herman the most interest. “I was the oldest one in the class — a grandfather!” he says. “That was more entertaining than being a male student.” (He and his wife, who have four sons, have since welcomed two more granddaughters.)

Before turning to nursing, Herman had a long career as a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin. Looking for more flexibility in his job, he was inspired by his wife’s career as a nurse at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. And Creighton was launching its Accelerated BSN program. It was perfect timing.

After graduating, Herman moved to Corvallis, Oregon, to work in the Progressive Care Unit at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. COVID-19 hit in his first year as an RN. “I experienced lots of things that can ruin a dinner party conversation,” Herman says, reflecting on his night shifts. “But each day we’d hit the ground running and keep doing what we do. It was nice to help people and make a difference.”

If I had to do it again, I’d go to Creighton.

— Jim Herman, BSN’18

After three years, an irresistible opportunity arose that would connect Herman’s previous career to his current one — and keep him at the medical center. The new position: RN informaticist, uniting his tech background with patient care “to make the health care workflow even better,” he says. “A nurse is like a human engineer — just a little more human touch. It’s a perfect match for me.”

Herman is happy he chose the Accelerated BSN, “especially having an established life,” he says. “It was a great program; quick and effective.”

Herman and his 20 classmates were well prepared for their next steps. The inaugural Phoenix cohort earned a 100% NCLEX pass rate.

“If I had to do it again,” Herman says, “I’d go to Creighton.”