You Are Right on Time: Melinda King Turned an Interrupted Dream Into a Holistic Healthcare Career
Melinda King, a 2026 Brightpoint nursing graduate, shares her success story.
Compassionate Nurses Inspire a Career in Healing
Melinda King’s interest in nursing first emerged during an unexpected hospital stay when she was ten years old.
“I was scared and afraid, and the nurses comforted me while helping me get better,” she said. Her desire to go into the nursing profession intensified after her seven-day-old son had to have open-heart surgery. Melinda, a new mother at the time, spent countless hours with her son as he recovered in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). There, nurses surrounded them, taking caring of both child and mother. Those same nurses encouraged Melinda to pursue her dream.
In 2006, Melinda became a Licensed Practical Nurse. Although she embraced the achievement, Melinda knew she wanted more. She told herself that once her children were grown, she would take the next step: pursuing a degree to become a registered nurse. But as time passed, doubt crept in and fear began to build. She started questioning whether she could take on the challenge of going back to school while balancing family and work responsibilities.
I had so many ‘best’ experiences at Brightpoint. The professors who encouraged and challenged me, the relationships I built with fellow Trailblazers…Simply put, it’s the community that Brightpoint offers everyone.
Those concerns began to fade after an online search about certifications led her to Brightpoint’s LPN to RN bridge program page. After reviewing the degree program requirements, she realized she was close to meeting all the prerequisites, and she took the leap.
“I chose Brightpoint because it chose me,” she said.
A Dream Becomes a Degree and a Practice
Melinda successfully completed her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing, LPN to RN Bridge Specialization in December 2025, and in February 2026, she passed her nursing licensure exam and earned her Registered Nurse license. She also started two businesses, one of which is a holistic, comprehensive perinatal professional practice.
Currently, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western Governors University, with plans to go into a master’s degree program and become a Family Nurse Practitioner.
“My dream is to have my own Family Nurse Practitioner practice where I can treat the whole family holistically and help build stronger, healthier communities.”
When asked what advice she would give to students just starting out, Melinda says, “Believe in your dreams, and banish fear from your vocabulary. Take advantage of Brightpoint’s support, and remember that you can do hard things. I promise you that the reward is worth the sacrifice."
Listen to Melinda's speech for the 2026 Brightpoint Commencement Ceremony. (She starts at timestamp 39:20.)