Edgar Lumbreras and Kaylee Haught have been together since the end of their junior year of high school. Now they’re getting ready to embark on two new adventures together.
The first is marriage. They got engaged this past Fourth of July and plan to have their wedding December 2022.
The second is starting their nursing careers.
Both Lumbreras and Haught attended Newman University to pursue their bachelor’s degree in nursing and will graduate this December. Afterward, Lumbreras will begin working at Wesley in its surgical intensive care unit, while Haught will start in Wesley’s neuro intensive care unit.
Behind the drive
While the two were inspired to become nurses for very different reasons, they’re both thrilled to finally put their skills to use and help others.
Haught decided to enter the nursing field because of her family.
“My grandma and my aunt are both nurses, and I was exposed to their busy schedules at a young age,” she said. “I remember my aunt telling me how she delivered a baby because the doctor didn’t make it in time, and I remember I wanted to help people like they did.”
What solidified Haught’s decision, though, was her first CNA job at a nursing home.
“I really enjoyed establishing the bonds and taking care of my residents,” she said. “I was set on applying for nursing school after having the opportunity to make a difference in my residents’ lives.”
For Lumbreras, becoming a nurse initially wasn’t on his radar. He started out attending Butler Community College, where he took engineering courses. Then one day while he was there, one of his family members had an accident that put them in the hospital.
“Since my family only speaks Spanish, they were anxious and did not know what was going on,” Lumbreras explained. “A Spanish-speaking nurse comforted my family and made sure they were informed and knew what was going on. After seeing how beneficial and supportive a Spanish-speaking nurse can be, I decided to change my major to nursing. As my first language, Spanish will help me comfort and inform my patients and make sure I care for the whole patient.”
Better together
After receiving his nursing prerequisites from Butler Community College, Lumbreras transferred to Newman because he believes it has the best nursing program in Kansas — and he had the added benefit of attending college with Haught.
“Pursuing our nursing degrees together has been a lot of fun,” Haught said. “It’s nice to have someone to come home to and know they are going through the exact same thing as you are. I love having the support he gives me. Sometimes we will have tough days, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to. We usually study together, and it helps keep us motivated to do better and get the best grades we can.”
After seeing how beneficial and supportive a Spanish speaking nurse can be, I decided to change my major to nursing.”
Edgar Lumbreras
Lumbreras added, “Since we both are graduating from the nursing program, we both know how hard it is and how time-consuming studying and the program can be. We keep each other motivated and make sure we never give up.”
Ultimately, while Lumbreras and Haught agree that nursing school is challenging — and being a practicing nurse will only present new challenges — they wouldn’t change their career path for anything. They encourage other aspiring nurses to have the same mindset.
“My advice would be to never give up,” Haught said. “You’re in the program for a reason, so never doubt yourself because you’re smart and you know what to do.”
Lumbreras said, “The best advice I can offer is if you have a goal or dream, chase it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.”
Earn a Nursing Degree
Many graduates from our private university further their education as clinical nurse specialists, advanced registered nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives.
