06/19/2026
There’s a moment in every nurse’s career when the question becomes: What’s next? For Lincoln Memorial University 2022 graduate Rebekah Blair, the answer was clear: Step up for her patients and her community.
Living and working in a rural community, she saw firsthand the gaps in access to quality health care. There were patients trying to manage chronic conditions without the education, resources, or consistent care they needed. So, she decided to do something about it.
“I wanted to use both my compassion and my nursing knowledge to better serve my community,” she said.
Rebekah enrolled in the LMU-Caylor School of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner concentration with a clear goal: to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care while helping improve outcomes in underserved populations.
What made that goal possible was the program’s hybrid format. With classes meeting on campus just one day a week, she was able to continue working part-time as an ICU nurse and caring for her family while advancing her education.
“The flexibility of online coursework and once-a-week in-person lecture allowed me to complete assignments and clinical hours around my busy schedule,” she said.
And those in-person days made a lasting impact- building relationships with faculty and classmates that continue to support her growth far beyond graduation.
Today, Rebekah cares for patients across both hospital and clinic settings, managing everything from chronic conditions to everyday acute illnesses.
And her patients notice. One patient shared:
“I am so thankful for Rebekah. She truly listens and makes you feel heard, respected, and genuinely cared for. Her kindness, patience, and compassion make you feel safe and advocated for… I never feel rushed or dismissed, and I’m so thankful to be in her care.”
Rebekah's advice to other nurses? “What are you waiting on? Your community needs you.”
