Growing Through Care: How AU Shaped Sarah’s Nursing Journey
A 2013 alum reflects on clinical confidence, spiritual growth, and her calling in oncology and hematology care.
Sarah (Jeffers) Glasgow ’13 works as an oncology and hematology registered nurse, a role that places her beside patients and their families during some of life’s hardest and most hopeful moments. She says her experience at Anderson University prepared her well for the realities of bedside care, even before she stepped into her first job.
Sarah remembers that the clinical opportunities and time in the simulation lab gave her the confidence she needed to enter the nursing field. Practicing skills in a realistic setting helped her learn to communicate clearly and offer compassionate care. Since she had not worked as a tech or patient care technician before graduating, those early hands-on experiences mattered even more. They helped her develop comfort in interacting with patients and understanding what professional care looks like day to day.
She also credits AU for helping her grow spiritually during her time as a student. That growth supports her now as she talks with patients and families who are facing difficult news. On her unit, those conversations happen often. Sarah says she feels equipped to be present, steady, and compassionate in those moments. She knows the work her team does involves serious challenges, but it also includes days that bring great celebration. When a patient enters remission and chemotherapy has done its job, the entire unit shares in the joy. For Sarah, walking shoulder to shoulder with people through both the victories and the setbacks is at the heart of what she does. She believes AU helped shape her into someone who can be there spiritually as well as professionally.
“I felt confident coming into the real nursing world. Interacting with patients was easier because of these experiences… AU helped to build me into someone who has the ability to be there spiritually as well as professionally.” – Sarah (Jeffers) Glasgow ’13
For students considering a nursing major, Sarah encourages them to take full advantage of their clinical work and the sim labs. She suggests students treat each manikin as a real patient, because the day will come when they stand beside someone experiencing either the best or worst day of their life. She believes nurses can offer peace in the middle of chaos and reflect God’s love to those who are hurting. Her advice is to give every opportunity your full attention and embrace each learning moment. According to Sarah, the time spent practicing and observing during nursing school becomes the foundation for confident and compassionate care later on.
Her reflections show how preparation, experience, and faith work together in the life of a nurse. By investing fully in her training at AU, Sarah found the confidence to step into a demanding field and the spiritual strength to walk with others through both challenge and hope.
About Anderson University
Anderson University educates students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 50 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 18 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult, graduate, and online programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized for excellence in business, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, music, nursing, psychology, social work, and teacher education programs. Established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God, the university remains committed to its Christ-centered mission.
