Greg Fisher
Major : Nursing
High School : St. James High School
Hometown : Aston, PA
Employment : Keystone Mercy Health Plan Business Analyst/Writer
Greg Fisher has always had a calling to be a nurse, but he never answered the call until a few years ago when he enrolled in the BSN degree program at Neumann College. Drawn to the health care environment in high school, he earned his bachelor of science degree in health policy administration from Penn State and worked almost 10 years in different positions for a variety of medical-related companies. Still, he felt there was something missing. “In the health care insurance industry, I work with a lot of nurses. We share stories, and it made me want to be a nurse even more.”
Once he decided to pursue nursing, Greg had to choose a college. Although he had grown up in Aston, he never paid attention to Neumann College, nestled in the town’s heart. He drove by countless times, but never ventured on to campus. It wasn’t until his interest in nursing resurfaced, and he began investigating nursing programs that he started to hear repeatedly about the quality of Neumann’s nursing program. “Several nurses that I worked with and some friends did nothing but rave about Neumann. It was so close to home that I hadn’t even considered it,” he says.
Once Greg visited Neumann he discovered that “the campus was beautiful and the nursing program was well planned.” Spirituality is an aspect of nursing program that Greg especially values. “We are taught how a patient’s spirituality is part of their healing process. When we get out into a clinical environment, we will be exposed to this. I think considering the spiritual component in a patient’s wellness is important and has implications for my actions as a nurse.”
Having been exposed to large classes and an expansive campus at his last school, Greg also really appreciates the one-on-one attention he gets in classes where there are only five to seven other students. “People here know you by name. Professors are really nice. They make time to talk with you and go over things when you need help,” he says.
According to Greg, returning to school as a working adult has been demanding. “Getting back to required reading, homework, and research projects is a different mind frame than what I had gotten used to, but I’ve adjusted. It’s exciting.” He says, “Many people in the nursing program are returning adults with previous degrees. It leads to an interesting learning environment where we can share experiences.”
Staff nursing is Greg’s short term career goal. “I want to see if I can be the one to help someone through a difficult time.” Depending on how he does as a nurse, Greg says he would like to work his way into an administrative or managerial role using his background and knowledge of business. “Eventually, I might even want to get an MSN and an MBA,” he says.
