From Scrubs to Success: A Nurses Journey of Passion and Progress

As the countdown to the University of South Carolina Aiken’s spring commencement begins, graduating senior, Terri Zummach, will soon swap her scrubs for a cap and gown as she gets ready to earn a degree in Nursing.

Zummach will be among 410 graduates walking across the Convocation Center’s stage on Wednesday, May 7.

Originally from Columbia, SC, Zummach chose USCA because of its close-knit community.  “I like having a relationship with the professors and feeling comfortable going to them instead of being treated like a number on the board,” she said.

One of the reasons Zummach chose USCA’s Nursing Program was because of its NCLEX-RN pass rate, which is higher than the GA/SC average pass rates for nursing schools. “Looking at that passing rate, I knew they were going to set me up for success. Talking to the administrators as well was very helpful in making my choice,” she said.

Nursing wasn’t Zummach’s initial choice when she first selected a major; she originally wanted to pursue sports medicine driven by her love for athletics.

However, after doing some research, she decided to redirect her studies to focus on critical care. 

Witnessing how well two nurses cared for her grandfather in critical care during her early college years sparked her motivation. “This made me realize that I want to care for people like that,” she explained.

“Critical care allows you to witness a variety of illnesses, injuries, and traumatic situations, and to see how everything connects. I also found it more engaging, and the nurse-to-patient ratio felt safe,” she shared.

Zummach highlighted that one of the appealing aspects of critical care is the opportunity to stay active, even in an ICU environment.

Throughout her time in the nursing program, she gained hands-on experience both inside and outside the classroom, working alongside medical professionals in the field.

Zummach has acquired invaluable experience through hospital training and is currently completing a preceptorship, where she is guided by nurses and her progress is closely monitored. So far, she has had the chance to learn at Aiken Regional and WellStar in Augusta, GA.

“I’ve seen a lot more this semester than anything, which has made me in awe of this field,” Zummach said.

After graduation, she plans to keep applying for nurse residency programs in Columbia, SC. Zummach also wants to look into travel nursing and eventually enroll in CRNA school. 

"Never let anyone fill your mind with doubt," Zummach advised future nursing students. "If you're passionate about something, go for it, just do it!"

Reflecting on her journey, Zummach recalled an early encounter with an older nurse who told her to quit while she was ahead. "That was the first nurse I met when I started working in the hospital setting," she said. But Zummach also remembered the nurses who inspired her, the ones who motivated her and her peers to push forward and always aim higher.

If there’s one thing she will miss the most about USCA’s nursing program, it’s the people, nursing faculty, and, surprisingly, the study days. "I’ll never forget that first semester, when we’d study from dusk till dawn some days. My friends and I would teach each other, order pizza, and binge-watch Netflix during our breaks. We practically lived in the nursing building."

When Zummach wasn’t busy working in the field, she used her free time to participate in USCA’s Asian Student Association, Intermural Sports Program, designed to promote healthy lifestyles within the campus community. She also played flag football and softball, and served as the president of the Student Nursing Association. Zummach has also spent time working in the Wellness Center as well as partaking in classes provided there. 

USCA will hold its annual May Commencement on Wednesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.