STCC’s accelerated nursing program helps healthcare professional become RN

Nesai Kien '26 with a patient simulator at STCC's SIMS Medical Center.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – After years of working in healthcare, Nesai Kien ‘26 was ready to take the next step in her nursing career.

With Springfield Technical Community College’s accelerated nursing program, she found an affordable one-year pathway to become a registered nurse (RN). Kien, who was part of the inaugural cohort of the accelerated program, earned her nursing credential and associate degree while continuing to work full-time and care for her family.

Kien became a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 2022 after working as a medical assistant. She enrolled in the STCC program in May 2025 with the goal of becoming an RN. After graduating in May 2026, Kien passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on her first attempt.

Today, she works as an RN in the emergency department at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where she draws on years of healthcare experience and the expanded clinical knowledge she gained at STCC.

Kien had long been interested in advancing her nursing career. Working in a hospital emergency department as an LPN helped her recognize how becoming an RN could expand her responsibilities and ability to care for patients.

“I thought, ‘I love what I do, so I need to continue my education,’” said Kien, reflecting on when she decided to apply to the STCC program.

While LPNs play an important role in patient care, registered nurses have a broader scope of practice, including additional responsibilities for assessments and monitoring changes in patients’ conditions. Kien wanted to build on her existing experience and develop the skills needed to take on those responsibilities.

The opportunity to enroll at STCC came through a friend, an STCC graduate who was shadowing Kien as a student nurse. He encouraged her to apply to the college’s new accelerated program, a rigorous, fast-paced one-year program for licensed or certified LPN's, paramedics, and military medics.

At first, Kien was unsure how she would manage school alongside her job and family responsibilities. She works full time, raises two sons, and helps care for her parents. The accelerated format, however, offered a way to advance her education within a defined period.

“I needed something that was going to move along with my life, not take me back,” she said.

The May-to-May program required focus and preparation. Kien continued working 12-hour shifts every weekend in the emergency department while completing coursework, preparing for exams, and meeting clinical requirements.

You just have to stay motivated and have the village to help you Nesai Kien, Graduate of the STCC accelerated nursing program

Support from her family, classmates, and STCC faculty helped her manage the demands. She said the faculty played an important role in guiding students through the intensive curriculum and helping them develop the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed.

Professor Ricardo Borgos, the program’s coordinator, guided students through lectures, laboratory work, and clinical experiences. Kien valued his ability to connect textbook concepts with the realities of nursing practice.

“He would tell us, ‘OK, this is not what's done in the textbook, but this is what's done in real life,’” she said. “And that was good to see and hear and learn.”

Borgos said the program teaches evidence-based practice using reliable sources, including the textbook, to help students bring that knowledge to the bedside.

“Working in hospitals across multiple states has taught me how important it is to recognize what a patient needs now, what can safely wait, and when priorities must change,” Borgos said. "In teaching hospitals, I’ve learned from attending physicians while helping teach residents, and I bring that same spirit of shared learning into the classroom. My goal is to help students understand the evidence and develop the clinical judgment to apply it to each patient.”

Simulation labs were another important part of her education. The hands-on experiences allowed students to practice clinical skills, receive additional guidance when needed and work together as a team. Students also use virtual reality technology powered by Oxford Medical Simulation (OMS) to step into high-pressure clinical scenarios.

For Kien, whose background included years of hospital experience, the program provided opportunities to build on what she already knew while strengthening her understanding of the RN role.

As an RN in Baystate Medical Center’s adult emergency department, Kien now assumes the broader responsibilities she pursued through her education.

Her work involves caring for patients with a wide range of needs, from those seeking medication refills to people experiencing life-threatening emergencies. In the fast-paced emergency department, she must assess patients, monitor changes in their conditions, and make clinical decisions to help ensure their safety.

“The biggest adjustment is just now having to treat these patients,” Kien said of the transition from LPN to RN. “I am that RN now.”

Her years of experience in healthcare gave her a valuable foundation, while her education at STCC helped prepare her for the expanded responsibilities of the RN role.

Christopher Scott, dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation, said Kien’s journey exemplifies the dedication and determination it takes to advance in the nursing profession.

“STCC’s accelerated nursing program provides an opportunity for experienced healthcare professionals to build on their existing skills, expand their clinical knowledge, and take the next step in their careers,” Scott said. “We’re proud of Nesai’s accomplishments and of the work our faculty do to prepare graduates to provide safe, compassionate, high-quality care to patients throughout our region.”

Completing the accelerated program was a major milestone for Kien. The pinning ceremony held at the end of her nursing education was particularly meaningful: She had experienced a pinning ceremony when she became an LPN, and this time she was celebrating her achievement as an RN.

She was also proud to graduate with her cohort and pass the NCLEX on her first attempt, crediting STCC with helping prepare her for the exam.

Her advice to others considering an accelerated nursing program is to keep your eye on the prize and build a strong support system.

“You just have to stay motivated and have the village to help you,” she said.

Interested in applying to the accelerated nursing program? Visit stcc.io/acceleratednursing for more information or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333. Currently licensed or certified LPN's, Paramedics, and Military Medics (aligned to NREMT NRP Level) are eligible to apply for this program.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC’s highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the College—a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution—seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed, and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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