Juan Quinonez, MSN, RN
The Long Road Home: How Ventura College Shaped me
I'm privileged to call Ventura my hometown. While I was at Buena High School in Ventura, I started taking a few classes at Ventura College in 2004 and I knew I wanted to be a registered nurse. After graduating high school in 2006, I started taking all the prerequisites. While on the extensive waitlist for the nursing program, I then earned a BA in Psychology from CSUCI in 2011. After a couple of academic setbacks at CSUCI's Nursing Program, I was able to earn a spot into the Ventura College School of Nursing (VCSON) in 2015.
I have been working at Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Ventura since 2010. I started as an Emergency Room Technician/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Once I graduated from the VCSON in 2017, I began my nursing career in the CMH Intensive Care Unit working the night shift. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, I stayed to help my community while many of my peers decided to pursue travel nursing for higher wages. Ventura is my home though and I stayed to assist as best I could. I achieved Charge Nurse status in the ICU and assisted the most critical of patients.
During the pandemic I earned a Master's In Nursing (MSN) online through the University of Arizona with an emphasis on Nursing Leadership. Currently, I work inside the CMH Cath Lab Recovery and love what I do now. In the future, I aspire to be more of a leader within CMH. Many of my friends at my work say I'm a workaholic because I'm always picking up shifts, but I just want to help out my community. I have fun doing what I do thanks to Ventura College.
Throughout any adversity or setback in my life, Ventura College was always there to help me out and this is true for anybody. I will always recommend to anyone to start their journey or continue their path at Ventura College. My story is of perseverance and never giving up on your goals and I'm so privileged that Ventura College was always there for me as they will always be there for you.
Are you interested in sharing your VC story and connecting with fellow alums? Contact Grace Falzone-Miller, Alumni Relations Specialist at gfalzonemiller@vcccd.edu or sign up below:
