Jennifer Isaacson (’22), a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Nursing, has a busy life with her four children. Her 13-year-old daughter Emma, who has Down Syndrome, loves acting and “High School Musical.” Her 12-year-old son Josh is passionate about robotics and plays trombone. Jake, her 8-year-old son, enjoys soccer and Pokémon, while her five-year-old son, Lincoln, just started kindergarten. “There’s no normal day,” says Jennifer.
Isaacson’s decision to pursue a degree in nursing stems from her personal experience. “Emma required open-heart surgery when she was 1, and cardiac ICU nurses saved our lives and saved Emma’s. That’s where I was introduced to cardiac and have loved it ever since,” Jennifer recalls. She will be working as a nurse in the cardiac intensive care unit at Erlanger Hospital, a job that deeply relates back to her family.
Isaacson’s professors speak highly of her motivation and perseverance. “Throughout her time in her nursing program, she has been focused on learning all that she can about the nursing profession and the opportunities nursing offers to people of all ages,” says Rachel Nall, clinical assistant professor at the UTC School of Nursing. Isaacson has a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in audiology and speech pathology from Brigham Young University. What’s her next education goal? Jennifer wants to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist, CRNA, in general surgery.
Despite her busy schedule, Isaacson and her husband work together to get their children ready for school and extracurricular activities. Having such a tightly packed schedule, she has cut back on working full-time as a licensed speech therapist, now focusing on consulting and support services for families with special needs. Once settled into her new position in the Erlanger cardiac ICU, Isaacson plans to return to UTC’s School of Nursing to reach her goal of becoming a CRNA.
In celebration of amazing nurses like Jennifer, you can join the UTC School of Nursing for a special NightinGala event, on Friday, April 21 at 6 p.m. An evening of food, fun and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the School of Nursing at the Gilman Event Hall in downtown Chattanooga awaits School of Nursing alumni, faculty, friends and supporters.