Haley Buchanan Finds Her Place at CFCC

Originally from Edenton, North Carolina, Haley Buchanan found Cape Fear Community College after years of searching for the right place.

“I was bouncing back and forth between schools trying to figure out what I wanted to do.”

Haley had already worked as a CNA for five years in various healthcare settings and knew she wanted to take the next step.

“I just can’t see myself doing anything different,” she said. “I wanted to do something that involved helping people somehow.”

Inspired by Her Grandmother

That desire to care for others runs in the family. “My main inspiration is my grandma,” Haley shared. “She’s been a nurse for about 50 years. She was an ER nurse and didn’t stop working until she was 79.”

A Bumpy Start

Haley’s first attempt at becoming a nurse wasn’t easy. “I was actually in a nursing program at another college, but I failed out by less than half a point,” she said. “I eventually got back in, but I debated for a long time whether to stay or start over somewhere new.”

That “somewhere new” became CFCC.

“I wanted a fresh start, and after I took the entrance test here and met the requirements for the practical nursing program, I knew this was where I needed to be.”

Finding Support at CFCC

From the very beginning, Haley could feel the difference. At CFCC, she found the support she’d been missing.

“The instructors are always so willing to help and push you farther. And they give constructive feedback without tearing you down.”

Learning by Doing

CFCC’s hands-on approach also helped Haley grow in confidence.

“Being here has really helped me come out of my shell,” she said. “We started clinicals just a few weeks into the program. In the first semester, we stayed on one floor at Novant. Then in the second, we rotated through med-surg, the OR, and Mother-Baby.”

Now in her final semester, Haley is completing two clinical days each week at a nursing home and a med-surg floor at Novant.

“It’s been busy, but it’s also helped me get even more confident in my time management and decision-making.”

Even with years of CNA experience, the scope of a nurse’s responsibilities surprised her.

“You have so many responsibilities as a nurse, and there’s a lot of decision-making. That can be overwhelming for some people. But this program prepares you for that.”

Prepared for Reality

What stood out most to Haley was how grounded CFCC felt in real-world application.

“At my last college, it was much more textbook-focused. They wanted you to follow these perfect steps, but it doesn’t always go that way in the real world. CFCC is more focused on helping you handle real situations.”

With graduation on the horizon, Haley is already thinking ahead. She plans to work as a licensed practical nurse after passing her licensure exam and eventually return to become a registered nurse through CFCC’s ADN program.

“They have an in-person and a hybrid option, and I’m still figuring out what fits best.”

Looking back, Haley remembers how overwhelming her first day in the program felt.

“I was freaking out internally. I felt like I was going to throw up,” Haley admitted. “But it all worked out. I made it and am proud of how far I’ve come.”