Since childhood, Jennifer Lavigne ‘03 has enjoyed helping other people. She wanted to translate this into a meaningful career and decided to study at Mohawk College to do so. 

In the 1990’s, Jennifer took the Practical Nursing certificate at Mohawk. From there, she completed a placement and was hired as a registered nursing assistant (RNA) with St. Joseph’s Villa, where she built her career for almost 30 years. 

It was during this time that Jennifer began pursuing the Practical Nursing diploma program at Mohawk. Looking to become a full-fledged nurse, she jumped right in to enroll. 

Mohawk’s Practical Nursing program affords students a collaborative learning environment where they work together with peers to study theory and hands-on knowledge that they put to practice in simulated and real-life situations, in order to prepare them for future-ready careers as healthcare professionals. 

While Jennifer studied at Mohawk, she continued her work as an RPN. She wanted to upgrade her skills while building her career and thankfully, that was an option for her. 

“The program was offered on weekends and I was able to continue working in my full-time job,” she says. “Without this option, I may not have been able to advance from RPN to RN.” 

Jennifer also completed a placement in the Practical Nursing program. It was Mohawk’s  

co-op experiences that made her education come alive and built the foundation for a thriving career in the healthcare field. 

Jennifer says, “I recommend the co-op program at Mohawk because you get to try things out and employers get to try you out. Co-op students build rapport with future employers and are aware of what they’re signing up for. It [can be] a great set-up for a job after graduation.” 

In 2017, Jennifer transitioned to a role with Thrive Group as their director of care. Moving from a hospital environment to a living residence presents challenges, but she was more than prepared to make the change. 

“I was confident in my role change, even after a long time in one place,” she says. “Mohawk provided many practical experiences in my nursing education, which prepared me for a realistic world. I am passionate about long-term care and chose to stay in that area.” 

Today, Jennifer works as the administrator for St. Peter’s Residence at Chedoke, which is a home community associated with Thrive Group. Being able to expand her career and hone her skillsets while doing so has been a reward in itself. 

Jennifer says, “I enjoy the social aspect of my job, working with different departments and individuals. I have the ability to coach and lead teams. Working together, we get to make a huge impact on the care and services that we provide to our residents and families.” 

As one of Mohawk’s Future Ready Premium Employers, Thrive Group champions health and well-being of the regional community and the training of future-ready healthcare graduates. Thrive employs over 100 Mohawk graduates each year and they provide a number of co-op and student placements. In addition, Thrive is a partner with City School and supports student success through annual scholarships. 

The world continues to show a need for nurses and healthcare professionals alike. Jennifer shares some sage wisdom for folks looking to build a career in the health field. 

"It’s a fulfilling role, being able to give back to people. Being a nurse, you need compassion for others. Do not do it for the financial gain, love what you do and know the return on investment is in people. They need to feel seen and cared for,” she says.