Student Spotlight: Faith Hommel

Faith Hommel has always had a passion for medicine and caregiving. After 20 years as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse now that her children are older. Faith chose Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) for its outstanding reputation and top-ranked ADN program. Her journey at CFCC has been filled with growth, support, and hands-on clinical experiences.

Here, Faith shares her story and the highlights of her nursing education.

What inspired you to pursue a career in nursing?

I have always loved the science aspect of medicine, but I feel most at home when I am in the role of a caregiver. Nursing seemed like a natural blend of both. I have been a CMA for 20 years and now that my children are older, it was time for me to go back to school and invest in my education. As a nurse, I will be able to do more clinical duties, and I’m excited about that!

Why did you choose CFCC for your nursing education?

CFCC has an excellent reputation for being a leader in nursing education. The CFCC ADN program has been ranked number one in the state for four consecutive years as well as having an NCLEX pass rate of 100% in 2023! I was taking such a big risk to go back to school, and I wanted to pick an ADN program that would set me up for success to be an excellent nurse post-graduation.

What has been your favorite course or topic in the nursing program so far?

My favorite part has been experiencing clinicals at Novant. I’ve made new friends in my clinical groups and started practicing my new clinical skills right away in a professional environment. The SIM lab is outstanding. The instructors, in addition to the technology that CFCC provides to their nursing students, are top-notch.

How do the instructors at CFCC support your learning and growth as a nursing student?

I have been very impressed with the knowledge base and teaching ability of CFCC ADN nursing instructors, especially Mrs. Barnhouse, Mr. HoltVoigt, and Mr. Rod Robinson. I genuinely feel like they want me to succeed and are giving me the support and direction to be able to grow into a professional nurse.

What has been the most challenging part of the nursing program, and how have you overcome it?

I have struggled with math my whole life; that was honestly one of the biggest reasons I didn’t pursue nursing before now. But CFCC has a great program to help students get up to speed and back on track to pursue their dream career. The Learning Resource Center, in addition to wonderful math instructors, made it possible for me to excel in what I thought would always be my weakest area.

Can you describe a memorable clinical experience you’ve had during your studies?

I was so nervous with my first clinical skills check-off; I thought I was going to forget something important and fail. Mr. HoltVoigt sensed my fears and allowed me to pause, get my thoughts together, and proceed to success. I felt like he was rooting for me to be successful and to use the skills that I had learned in an effective way.

How does CFCC prepare you for real-world nursing situations?

During my first clinical experience at Novant, I was able to do a thorough head-to-toe assessment on my patient and start an IV. CFCC has a strong focus on equipping their nursing students with exceptional clinical skills.

What advice would you give to someone considering a nursing program?

Just take one small step toward your goal, even if it’s just asking for more information from the CFCC website. The Health Sciences staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and easily accessible to prospective students that need help finding out how to get started.

What are your career goals after graduating from CFCC?

I am currently interested in wound care and hospice; however, Novant has a new program that offers new nurses the opportunity to experience a “residency” where they float around to different departments in the hospital and experience the environment before committing to a dedicated specialty. That is something I will be pursuing when I graduate.

How has the CFCC community helped you in your nursing journey?

CFCC helped me take the first step towards a different future by providing information from the Health Science team members when I didn’t know where to start, excellent instructors, and the Learning Lab for any additional tutoring I needed with core subjects. I’m very thankful to have such a great school so close to home.