Jaime Klomps
The Class of 2020 made history for many reasons—one of which involved a global pandemic. But, the graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program achieved another milestone: They’re the first cohort to graduate with a Messiah University doctoral degree. For Jaime Klomps, DNP ’20, the four years spent earning a terminal degree were anything but dull.
“I came into the program as a full-time RN and also working two other positions in nursing at other facilities,” she said. “I quickly learned that the program truly means that it is a full-time job of its own. I found a way to balance three kids, which became five, by the end of the program—and still managed to float several jobs at a time during the program. So, if I can do it, anyone can do it.”
She says she researched a lot of different schools to find the right DNP program. What made her choose Messiah? The people made the difference.
“No one else had professors who were approachable. The nursing faculty made me feel connected and an important member of the Messiah community,” she said. “They never failed to be available or to offer advice—or to even just let us vent. The classes are small and intimate. It allows for everyone to connect with each other and the faculty.”
She now works as a certified nurse practitioner as a surgical oncology outpatient center at Penn State Health.
“When you become an NP, you go from the person taking all the orders, to ordering meds and becoming a patient’s pre-op and post-op person,” she said. “Messiah pushed us to strive for better and drilling the thought of ‘Messiah rigor’ into our work ethics. I was able to learn how to critically think and use a more in-depth knowledge base to protect and help patients in an advanced role.”