David L. Archer President | Christian Brothers University

On a recent October afternoon, Jessica Taylor shared her experiences from a clinical rotation in Obstetrics at St. Francis Hospital. She expressed enthusiasm for her future career, saying, “Right now, with the classes that I’m taking, everything we talk about I’m seeing in clinicals in real time. I saw a C-section and a vaginal birth, and I put in a Foley catheter today.” She also recounted earlier experiences this semester where she inserted an orogastric tube and her first IV during an ICU clinical.

Jessica is originally from Memphis and graduated from Overton High School. She transferred to Christian Brothers University (CBU) to join its Traditional Nursing Program after completing a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree in 2022 with Summa Cum Laude honors. She is set to graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in May 2025.

Dr. Jennifer Hitt, Director of the CBU Nursing Program, praised Jessica's qualities: “Jessica is more than just a student nurse—she’s a compassionate leader, a dedicated learner, and a fierce advocate for her patients.”

Thanks to scholarships covering her costs at CBU, Jessica can focus on learning opportunities without financial burden. Her mother works as an engineer at FedEx and her father as an accountant with Baptist Memorial Healthcare. Despite not being directly involved in medicine themselves, they have inspired Jessica through their dedication to service.

Reflecting on family influences, Jessica said: “I work diligently because of the opportunities my mother fought so hard to achieve.” Her grandmother's unfulfilled dream of becoming an RN has motivated Jessica further: “One of the reasons why I want to be a nurse is so I can do it to honor her.”

Another role model for Jessica is her cousin who works as a nurse at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and survived breast cancer. “I am able to look at her and see the impact that she has as a nurse,” said Jessica.

Jessica participated alongside this cousin in the inaugural CBU Goes Pink cancer walk on October 23, 2024.

After graduation, she plans to pursue pediatrics due to her ability to connect easily with children—a skill honed while mentoring high school students. Her interest stems partly from personal experiences as well; having been affected by intimate partner violence as a teenager led her towards focusing on youth health issues including mental health.

Last summer saw another achievement when Jessica was selected among only 17 nursing students out of over 300 applicants for an externship at St Jude assigned specifically within solid tumor neurology/oncology units working three twelve-hour shifts weekly mirroring regular nurses' schedules there performing tasks such as taking vital signs assisting families maintaining hygiene playing drawing pictures accompanying children needing imaging down radiology staying them throughout process allowing firsthand insight into typical 'day life'.

During tenure CBU embraced campus life joining various organizations including Buccaneers cheerleading squad Non-Panhellenic Council serving President Ambassador member Alpha Kappa Alpha currently presiding NSO looking ahead confident often reflecting favorite Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 "'For know plans have declares Lord prosper harm hope future.'"