DURANGO, Colo.— Kari Sutherland never imagined she’d become a nurse. As a business major at Fort Lewis College, she was going through the motions, unsure of her true calling. But a harrowing near-death experience in March 2023 changed everything.
“I woke up one morning and couldn’t breathe,” Sutherland said, her voice still tinged with disbelief. “I thought it was just a bad asthma attack, but I ended up passing out in the car on the way to the emergency room.” 
What followed was a nightmarish eight-day hospital stay, bouncing from the emergency room to the intensive care unit as doctors struggled to understand why this seemingly healthy young woman couldn’t breathe. Heavily medicated and scared, Sutherland said she didn’t know if she’d live to see another day.
The impact of compassionate care
But amid the fear and uncertainty, a sliver of hope emerged: the nurses at her bedside.
“One nurse kept distracting me with stories about her life travels,” Sutherland said. “Another brought me candy that she said I could only eat after I got out of the hospital. And one day, when I was having a terrible time just trying to breathe, one nurse just sat and cried with me.”
These small acts of kindness at one of her lowest moments left an indelible mark on Sutherland.
“Seeing how deeply they cared about me showed me what I want to do with my life,” she said. “It was a wake-up call. I knew I had to become a nurse.”
It was as if, by extraordinary timing, Fort Lewis College launched its pre-nursing program the following semester. Sutherland immediately changed her major, embracing her newfound passion with open arms. Now the president and founder of Fort Lewis College’s Nursing Club, Sutherland, 24, is on a mission to create a supportive community for aspiring nurses.
“Our goal is to provide a safe space for students to learn about nursing and, just as importantly, how to take care of themselves,” she said. “There’s a nursing shortage because burnout is real in this profession; they’re so focused on taking care of others, they forget to take care of themselves.”
Whether it’s overcoming their own health struggles, like Sutherland, or being inspired by family and community, FLC aspiring nurses seem to be united by a common goal: to provide compassionate care and give back to the communities that shaped them.
Tessa Dugan, a 19-year-old sophomore from Castle Rock, Colorado, knew early in her life that she wanted to pursue a career in nursing. After finishing her certified nursing assistant (CNA) certificate in high school, Dugan was drawn to Fort Lewis College’s pre-nursing program and quickly looked for opportunities within the community to apply that knowledge and gain hands-on experience. 
She found that opportunity at Mercy Hospital in Durango, where she works as a CNA on the orthopedic unit. There, Dugan is gaining real-world experience while being exposed to different specialties within nursing, which helps her determine what field she’d like to pursue once she earns her degree.
For Dugan, nursing is about more than just medical knowledge – it’s about making human connections. One childhood memory stands out as one of the first times she experienced the impact healthcare workers can have on patients, which instilled the desire to become a nurse all these years later.
“When I was five, I went to the hospital for an emergency, and I was scared and asked for a Band-Aid,” she said. “The doctor said, ‘I couldn’t find a Band-Aid, but I found a teddy bear’ and gave it to me. That simple act of kindness made such an impression on me. I wanted to carry that positive attitude into my career.”
Bailey Martinez, 19, another sophomore in the program, was raised by a healthcare worker.
“My mom is a nurse, and her passion has always inspired me,” Martinez said.
Personal loss has also shaped Martinez’s journey – she’s lost several family members to cancer and other illnesses. But, she said, the passing of loved ones has only fueled her desire to become a nurse.
“I hold them close to my heart,” she said. “Now, I reflect that love onto my patients.”
Working as a CNA at Animas Surgical Hospital since May, Martinez said she has found her calling.
“I was so nervous at first,” she admits. “But now, seeing the impact I can make … has been inspirational.”
Martinez said one patient particularly stands out. After surgery, Martinez sat with a recovering patient, talking about her life and what the surgery meant for her. She said the conversation carried on to all kinds of topics, and the two began to form a bond. Weeks later, the very same patient brought Martinez a note that said she believed Martinez would be a great nurse one day.
“She said she believed in me,” Martinez said. “I realized that getting to know patients and their stories has impacted my life as well; that’s made pursuing a career in nursing solidify in my brain. I know that's what I want to do now, and I know that for a fact because of the experiences at the hospital, which have made me want to pursue nursing even more than before I started.”
Community support 
For many students, the path to nursing is only possible with financial assistance. Fortunately, FLC and community partners have supported these aspiring caregivers.
Dugan, for instance, received the Colorado Rural Healthcare Workforce Initiative scholarship, which aims to increase the number of healthcare professionals in rural counties. Under the initiative, higher education institutions can create rural tracks within their healthcare programs, reserving spots for students interested in working in these areas. These tracks include specializd courses focused on rural healthcare, hands-on training in rural locations, and scholarships for students who commit to working in rural communities for two years. The initiative is funded with $1.2 million from the state’s general fund, distributed through contracts with institutions.
Sutherland’s strength in the face of personal tragedy earned her the Nursing Resilience Award, which came with a $2,000 scholarship. And it’s not hard to see why: in February, Sutherland’s father became ill, and she took on a lot of the responsibilities of his hospice care. Throughout the spring semester, she’d attend classes at Fort Lewis College from Monday to Wednesday, then drive six hours to Denver to be with her father. The following Sunday, she’d drive six hours back to Durango to attend classes and run the Nursing Club.
“All the while still maintaining a 4.0 GPA,” she said proudly.
Bailey, who attended Bayfield High School in Southwest Colorado, benefits from two Fort Lewis College Foundation scholarships: the Jane and Steve Short Scholarship and the Animas Surgical Hospital Scholarship. After receiving the Animas Surgical Hospital Scholarship, she was already able to make a difference by working at the facility.
“Financially, college was an iffy option for me,” she said. “These scholarships, along with the Native American tuition waiver at FLC, made it possible for me to pursue my dreams.” 
Fort Lewis College’s pre-nursing program stands out for its strong partnerships with local healthcare providers. As a result, students can gain invaluable experience at facilities like Mercy Hospital and Animas Surgical Hospital, putting theory into practice and confirming their career choices.
FLC Director of Nursing Maggie LaRose said the community understands the need for nurses in the Four Corners region, and healthcare providers have worked closely with FLC in developing programs that respond to the region’s needs.
“The healthcare providers in the Four Corners region have been wonderful to partner with,” she said, adding that these partnerships seek to build community beyond buildings’ walls.
For example, students got to tag along on a recent visit to campus by U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper.
And in May 2024, the program hosted its first Southwest Nursing Excellence Awards, bringing together students, faculty, and community healthcare workers to celebrate those working to make a difference in the region.
“It was a touching, humbling experience to see all these nurses win awards for how they’ve touched people’s lives,” Sutherland said.
Building the pipeline
The University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus and Fort Lewis College brings top medical education to the rural and Indigenous-focused FLC campus in Southwest Colorado.
Students enroll at FLC in the pre-nursing program, and once they complete those courses, they can apply to the CU Nursing program, which will be taught by CU faculty. The first nursing cohort is set to start in Fall 2025 in a newly renovated facility that is expected to be finalized this winter.
While studying at the Fort Lewis College campus, students accepted into the program will complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from CU, Colorado’s highest-ranked nursing school. The curriculum begins with two years of foundation courses at FLC before transitioning to nursing-specific courses in years three and four.
As Fort Lewis College’s pre-nursing program grows, its impact will extend beyond campus. These students –shaped by personal experience, supported by scholarships, and nurtured through community partnerships– are poised to become the compassionate and skilled nurses the region desperately needs.
Sutherland's future is filled with purpose.
“I’m a naturally caring person, and I want to be that nurse who makes a difference,” she said.