Sommer Yount, a registered nurse, took an oath to ensure the safety of her patients and to provide them with the best care possible.

To keep that promise, she entered the R.N. to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas.

Yount began her nursing career in November 2018 as a registered nurse. She is completing her bachelor’s degree online to enhance her ability to care for patients.

“I want to continue my education by getting my B.S.N. from the University of Arkansas,” Yount said. “I want to not only grow my educational background, but I also want to learn more about the health care needs of the patients that I serve in my community.”

Yount was one of seven people to receive the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship for online U of A students for the 2019-2020 academic year.

“(The scholarship) really means a lot,” Yount said. “It’s helping me work a full-time job and go back to school sooner than expected.”

Yount does not plan to stop once she earns a bachelor’s degree.

“My dream is to continue my education online with the U of A to get my master’s in nursing,” Yount said. “This would allow me to switch from the clinical area to the classroom, allowing me to teach future nurses the skills they need to serve their patients physically, spiritually and mentally.”