Natural Compassion Allows Toohey to Become a Caregiver

After graduating from Delaware Tech with an associate degree in nursing and immediately beginning to work in the field, Nicole Toohey jumped at the opportunity to enroll in the College’s BSN program.

“I so thoroughly loved attending Delaware Tech for my associate degree that I wanted to return for my bachelor’s degree,” Toohey said. “I’m so very proud to be part of the first class of BSN graduates.”

Toohey, a compassionate person at heart, wanted to be a caregiver and was encouraged to become a nurse.

Toohey graduated with her associate degree (ADN) in 2014. She worked in the healthcare field to gain experience while working toward her associate degrees. Toohey was an intern at Christiana Care and a home health certified nursing assistant.

After graduation, she began working for Bayhealth at Kent General Hospital in Dover. Toohey worked in the progressive care unit, and knew she would eventually need a bachelor’s degree to stay in the nursing field.

Toohey said it helped to have established relationships with nursing instructors during her time in the associate degree program. And it also helped having a friend going through the program at the same time – Toohey completed the BSN program with her best friend, and fellow alumni, Stephanie Huerta. The BSN program helped teach leadership and management skills, how to be more assertive, and how to see situations from a patient’s perspective.

“Delaware Tech does an excellent job preparing and educating nurses,” Toohey said.

Toohey currently work as pre-op/post-op nurse at Bayhealth’s Sussex Campus in Milford. And she is actively spreading the word about her experiences at Delaware Tech and the BSN program.

“I truly believe the people who graduate from Delaware Tech stay in Delaware,” Toohey said. “It’s really cool to be part of a college that educates Delaware’s citizens.”

In the future, Toohey would eventually like to transition to hospice nursing because she would like to help patients remain calm and care for them during a time that is difficult for them and their loved ones.