A Lineage of Care at Southern Adventist University

Families in Southern Adventist University’s School of Nursing, in Collegedale, Tennessee, United States, are connected by care and united in their calling to serve. Several students and faculty recently had the opportunity to see each other in new contexts: a mother and daughter graduating together; a professor teaching her daughter; and a whole family using their training as they work in tandem in the medical field.

Growing Together: The Cooper Family

Strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” serenaded a mother and daughter as they marched down the aisle to receive their Associate of Science in Nursing degrees during Southern Adventist University’s Commencement on December 14, 2023.

While in high school on the West Coast, Rachel Cooper dreamed of attending Southern, but her family preferred she remain close to home. As she began college nearby, her mother, Jennifer Cooper, considered re-entering the workforce as an occupational therapy assistant. When the two participated in a group project at a nursing home, Rachel was inspired by how the nursing staff interacted with patients and found her career calling.

Jennifer also felt drawn to nursing after participating in the project. After nine months of job searching with no opportunities in her previous field, she realized she needed to secure a reliable career to support herself and her family. She was additionally influenced by the book Counsels on Health by Ellen G. White, which describes how medical personnel will have opportunities to share the gospel with those whom the church cannot otherwise reach.

“I decided that if the Lord could help me understand His good news, I needed to become a nurse as a way to offer that message of hope to others,” she says.

Around the same time, Rachel discovered scholarships at Southern Adventist University that opened doors for her to transition to Tennessee and join the nursing program. Meanwhile, Jennifer applied to nursing programs at community colleges in California and Washington, where seats for the programs are given out on a points-based lottery system. After applying for multiple cycles without success, a friend suggested that Jennifer join Rachel at Southern.

After an exciting discussion with Rachel, Jennifer applied, was accepted into the same nursing cohort as Rachel, and began preparing to move herself and her family across the country before the start of the winter semester.

Even though the pair attended the same classes, they rarely studied together. “We needed to make sure that we each understood the content on our own,” Rachel explains, adding, “although, it was nice to have someone to remind you about a forgotten assignment and be project partners with.”

Early semesters were quite difficult for Jennifer, as she was dealing with the emotional trauma of major life events and had been away from college for 25 years. She often found herself crying out to God. “Thankfully, He’s been faithful in bringing information back to my memory. I’m grateful His grace is so good and so big!”

The familial relationship fostered friendly competition on test scores. Jennifer remembers earning higher marks on the first semester exams but shares that Rachel “pulled into the lead after that.” For other activities, such as designing crazy holiday sweaters for a department contest, the two would join forces and, in that case, win second place.

“I’m just really glad that I got the chance to do this with my daughter and have a precious memory,” Jennifer shares. “My son attends Collegedale Academy, right across the road, so it’s become a new home for us all. God really knew what He was doing in bringing us here.”

Reflecting on the ceremony, Rachel says, “Graduating with my mom was exciting, and I couldn’t stop smiling as we walked in. I could hardly believe it was happening all the way up to that point. I was so proud to see her walk up on that stage. It was a wonderful day that nothing could take away from.”

Jennifer feels similarly. “My heart was full of gratitude to God for bringing us to that day together, and it was also bubbling over with the pride He gives. Oh, how good it was to see that nonstop, beaming smile on Rachel’s face—and I was privileged to have an up-close view. I treasure this opportunity to walk this part of our journey side by side.”

Jennifer and Rachel passed their NCLEX-RN exams and received their registered nursing licenses this spring. They plan to remain at Southern’s School of Nursing to complete their bachelor’s degrees, hopefully by the end of summer 2024. As the Coopers continue on life’s journey, they rest in the certainty that God will be faithful in guiding them every step of the way.

Mothering and Mentoring: The Showalter Family

As Christy Showalter, a nursing professor, introduces herself to the students of her Adult Health I class at Southern, just as she has for the past 14 years, her slideshow presentation includes a photo of herself with her family. If you look closely in the dimly lit room of students, one pupil in particular bears a striking resemblance to the young woman on the screen — Christy’s second child and only daughter, Maddie Showalter.

Working together can put the pressure of additional expectations on any family. When asked about the first day teaching her daughter, Christy laughs. “Maddie would probably be surprised to know that I was really nervous. Students don’t realize how jittery the first day is for professors, but Christina Shrode, another nursing professor who has also had a daughter in our program, happened to be passing by. She spoke with me and prayed for me. It didn’t take long to settle in and do what I normally do.” Christy and Maddie were sensitive to keeping their professor-student relationship in the classroom separate from the parent-child one. Christy remarks, “By God’s grace, it seems to be working really well.”

Maddie admits there have been times when their filial relationship has been challenging. “Sometimes she may think I’m her biggest critic because I’m her daughter,” Maddie says. “When I ask her a question, I want her to know that it is as a student who’s genuinely looking for answers and not that I’m critiquing her. There’s a barrier between ‘mom’ and ‘teacher’ sometimes, which can be hard to navigate. But we’ve definitely worked out the kinks and are doing great now.”

Maddie says these moments have improved their communication as adults. “There’s growth for sure. We’re seeing different sides of each other.”

Christy does worry about disappointing Maddie. “I also want to avoid favoritism,” she adds. “In trying to be fair, I learned that I need to be patient and not defensive. That was a turning point for me, remembering that she is like the other students.”

Christy is enjoying this rare seat from the front to watch her child’s academic and personal growth. “Most parents don’t get this experience. They might only be able to ask how classes are going. I do recognize that I have this amazing vantage point. It’s pretty special when I see light bulbs turning on for her, and I’m so, so proud of her!”

Having parents who understand firsthand how rigorous the nursing program is has encouraged Maddie. “They told me that if my heart is in it, then I can do it. They’ve been very supportive.” Her mother, as a mentor, has inspired her. “It’s a beautiful thing that I get to see my mom in this place where she thrives and to learn from her. She is my role model, and I strive to be like her.”

The shared profession has bonded mother and daughter in a special way. Maddie says, “We always have things to talk about, even on an intellectual level. When I learn from what she’s passionate about, it makes me feel more confident of my decision to be in this program.” However, Maddie knows what she appreciates most about being in her mother’s class. “I can see that she is not only so passionate about nursing, but also so passionate about the Lord. That inspires a lot of people in my class, including me, to grow deeper in our faith in God. Her passion for that just shines, and it’s really beautiful!”

From Children to Colleagues: The Johnson Family

Cindy Johnson is another parent in the School of Nursing with the pleasure of wearing two hats — a professor and a mother. Her more than three decades as a nurse in the emergency room, intensive care unit, and post-anesthesia care unit inspired her daughters, Jessica and Ashley, to enroll in Southern’s nursing program, where Cindy coordinates and teaches in the simulation lab. Cindy enjoyed the additional privilege of working alongside her children when they became colleagues at Erlanger Health System.

Jessica (Johnson) Weber completed her associate’s degree in 2017 and her bachelor’s in 2018, while Ashley (Johnson) Finley finished her associate’s degree in 2022 and just graduated last spring with her bachelor’s.

Cindy began her own career as a nurse at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga in 1989. When she started teaching at Southern in 2007, she continued working a few days each month in the post-anesthesia care unit. While seniors in high school, her daughters were each selected to join Erlanger VolunTEENs, a hands-on summer program in which students help hospital staff and patients in clinical and non-clinical settings while exploring their interests in the medical field.

“The experience cemented their desire to work in health care, particularly nursing. Later, both Jessica and Ashley worked as nurse techs at Erlanger before their final semester of nursing, then transitioned into nursing roles,” Cindy explains.

“I always knew that I wanted to do something in the medical field. We were surrounded by it,” Ashley shares. “Then, after shadowing as a teen at Erlanger, I fell in love with the hospital setting. Now, as an ICU nurse, I’ve learned to use critical-thinking skills quickly.”

The passion for medicine runs deep in the hearts of the Johnsons. Cindy and her husband, Tim, met while volunteering at the Tri-Community Fire Department in Collegedale, where all four have since worked on the medical team — Ashley and Tim as emergency medical technicians, and Jessica and Cindy as emergency medical responders.

“There were plenty of nights when all four of us were on the same truck,” Ashley states. The pressure of being the first responders to a call has gelled them as a team. Jessica reflects, “When we worked together to heal wounds or do CPR, we fell into natural roles, with Mom or Dad leading on the scene.” Ashley adds, “It was a benefit to have learned from their medical knowledge. We work well together, and then, after a call, we debrief with the team and as a family.”

The family’s service to the community carries on into the hospital. Both daughters practice nursing at Erlanger Health System — Jessica as a specialized “Red Shirt” on the trauma critical care team and Ashley in the shock intensive care unit. Although assigned to different departments, there are times when the sisters’ jobs intersect, especially since they both work the night shift.

“Over the years, we all have been on many scenes together providing medical care,” Cindy states. “More recently, on several occasions, I have ridden into the hospital on the ambulance, assisting the paramedic, before turning over patient care to Jessica, who has then taken the patients to the trauma unit and handed them off to Ashley.”

The family’s work includes equipping the next generation of health-care workers. Cindy, Jessica, and Ashley have taught credentialing courses for the critical care areas of the hospital, including Basic Life Support. Their collaboration has also returned them to the classrooms of Southern, where they are basic life support instructors for nursing students, resident assistants, and deans on campus. In addition, Jessica is an advanced cardiac life support instructor and helps Cindy teach this course for the leadership nursing students each semester. “It’s been a fun experience to come back and teach at the university where I graduated,” Jessica muses.

Education remains a powerful motivator in their own lives. Cindy earned her master’s degree in nursing at Southern and completed her doctorate in nursing education. Cindy says one of the greatest pleasures is watching her daughters continue to grow. “They have a love of learning! Their education didn’t stop at Southern, but it is where they embraced it, and it continues to blossom.”

Jessica and Ashley say that if they have children one day, they will provide the same example as their parents. “We were never pressured to go into the medical field or even nursing,” Jessica says. “It felt like a very natural course because we observed the ways Mom treated others at school and work. I love my job of helping people and would share that with my kids as Mom did. If they choose that, it would be awesome.”

The original version of this story was posted in the Spring 2024 Columns, a quarterly magazine from Southern Adventist University’s. Here is their website.