Pursuing Purpose: Rachel Cole’s Path to a Nursing Career at FMU

For Florence native and mother of four, Rachel Cole, earning a nursing degree was not something at the top of her mind when she graduated from high school fifteen years ago. She bounced around a bit, attending colleges in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and had her first child before circumstances led her back home to Florence, and ultimately, to Francis Marion. 

“My life looked exactly the opposite of what I thought it would be,” Cole reflects. “I definitely shouldn’t be sitting here today, but for whatever reason, God had a plan and here I am.”

When she returned to Florence, she knew it was time to continue on the track she had initially started a decade earlier – becoming a nurse. Her mother, Danette Cole, a longtime nurse at McLeod Health, served as a wonderful example and a constant source of encouragement.

“My mother was a nurse, and being raised by someone with such compassion and a desire to serve others had a profound impact on my decision to enter nursing.”

In the summer of 2023, Cole took her first classes at FMU, completing the prerequisites needed to begin her journey in the nursing program that fall. Returning to school after many years away – and with a two-year-old at home – was daunting, but the nursing faculty immediately put her at ease.

“I cannot imagine a better place to learn than Francis Marion,” says Cole. “From the first day I stepped into the classroom through this final semester, the experience has been so positive. Our professors push us to become the best nurses we can be. I know I’m prepared for the future because of what I learned in the classroom from my professors and through the hands-on experiences I’ve had working in different hospital settings.”

Outside of her coursework, Cole had the opportunity to participate in the Honor Flight program last summer. This program takes veterans to Washington, D.C., to honor them for their service, with each veteran paired with a volunteer companion. This experience was deeply meaningful to Cole and left a lasting impact on her.

“I could not have imagined the impact the Honor Flight would have on my life,” she says. “I learned so much from the group of veterans I had the honor of travelling with. The stories they shared about their service will stay with me and shape the way I care for veterans in the healthcare system.” 

Cole remains in touch with Joseph Dennis, the Navy veteran she was paired with. Dennis, who served during the Vietnam War, was deeply appreciative of Cole’s care and made the trip from Savannah to attend her graduation. 

“Rachel is an amazing young lady,” says Dennis. “She was very inquisitive about my time in the military and took the best care of me. Her kindness and compassion will carry her far in her nursing career.”

As Cole prepares to begin her nursing career in neurosurgery at McLeod Health, she’s already looking to the future. She plans to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at FMU, drawn to the advanced opportunities it offers.  

One thing is certain: when Rachel Cole sets her mind to something, she will achieve it.

“When I think of Rachel, I think of someone who dreamed of making a difference and pursued that dream with determination,” says Dr. Rhonda Brogdon, Chair of FMU’s Department of Nursing. “She is the calm in someone else’s storm. Everything she did throughout this program was marked by heart, compassion, and competence. She is going to be a phenomenal nurse.”