Mom of 6 works toward nursing degree
Kirstin Moran and her husband Eddie wanted a large family. Now, after all but two of their six children are grown, Kirstin is turning her attention towards a new goal.
A nursing degree.
After sharing conversations with her oldest daughter Meghan, 23, about her nursing job, Kirstin decided she wanted to pursue nursing as well.
The Morans are Oak Ridge residents. They moved to East Tennessee 14 years ago.
Kirstin, raised in California, joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school. She met Eddie, her future spouse, while they were both in the Navy’s nuclear power program. Soon after exchanging vows, Kirstin became pregnant and was honorably discharged.
The couple and their growing family eventually moved to Oak Ridge, where Eddie now works as a shift supervisor at a research reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Kirstin homeschooled their children in their early years, a time she described as fun, energetic and busy.
“I purposely stayed home because I wanted to give the kids a strong foundation in their lives,” she explained.
During that time, Kirstin began an internet graphic design business geared toward parties. But business declined when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
With her children “moving out and moving on, I didn’t want to spend more time at home on a computer,” Kirstin said.
She enrolled at Roane State Community College last fall as a Tennessee Reconnect student, which provides free tuition for adults. She starts Roane State’s nursing program next fall.
So far, “I’ve really enjoyed it,” Kirstin said of her experiences at the community college’s Oak Ridge Branch Campus. “I was a little nervous at first, but I’ve found the people here encouraging and friendly. I’ve met a lot of great people.”
She took anatomy and physiology her first and second semesters and said it's “definitely challenging.” She called her instructor, Professor Saeed Rahmanian, fantastic.
“He is great at explaining concepts and goes out of his way to help students learn," she said.
“Her excellence in class is not just based on her grades,” Rahmanian said of Kirstin. “It’s obvious she goes above and beyond what’s being presented and searches for more information on topics covered in class.”
Other standout professors, Kirstin said, include Associate Professor Marilyn Mascaro, whom Kirstin called “an excellent instructor who is very encouraging and helpful,” Associate Professor Andy Anderson, described as “funny and engaging,” and adjunct instructor Jason Payne, whom Kirstin said “makes our labs really interesting.”
Robin Leib, director of the Learning Center on the Oak Ridge campus, “always offers to help,” Kirstin added.
After she graduates from the Roane State nursing program, Kirstin said she may pursue a bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in order to “open up some more doors in the nursing field.”
“I have a passion for helping other people learn,” Kirstin said. “I consider myself a lifelong learner.”
The Morans’ other children include Rebekah, 21, Edward V or “Bear,” 20, Anna, 19, Emily, 17, and Lily, 15.
For information on the Tennessee Reconnect program, which provides free tuition to eligible adults, visit roanestate.edu/reconnect. Information on Roane State’s nursing program is also available online at roanestate.edu/nursing.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Mom of 6 working toward nursing degree
