UKIAH, Calif. – “If I were an investor wanting to make a difference, I would donate to students who give back like those in the nursing program,” said Kristy Hosford, who is in her final year in the Registered Nursing program at Mendocino College.

Hosford, raised in Petaluma, moved to Laytonville in Northern Mendocino County 12 years ago. While growing up, she never had an inkling that she wanted to be a nurse.

One day in 1999, she was driving by the Laytonville Volunteer Fire Department and saw the volunteers outside cutting open a car. “I said to myself ‘I want to do that’ and have been doing emergency response ever since,” said the vivacious 34-year old.

She joined the LVFD and trained at the Volunteer Firefighter Academy and to be an emergency medical technician. She then worked for the Ukiah Ambulance service for eight years and at Howard Hospital in Willits.

Hosford advanced through CPR training to become an instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Life Support before deciding she wanted to go to nursing school.

“I could have stayed in emergency medical services, but advancement is limited,” she said.

Preferring hands-on work to management, Hosford completed her associate of arts degree and the prerequisites for being accepted to the nursing program, all while working full time.

It took her three years to get into the Mendocino College Nursing program and Hosford has been awarded financial aid and scholarships along the way.

“A student who has come so far as to be accepted to the nursing program, not only has completed stringent prerequisites in anatomy and physiology, he or she is driven and determined to succeed,” said Hosford.

The Registered Nurse program takes four semesters and is financially challenging. “Something always comes up, a flat tire or I’m out of toothpaste,” said Hosford, who works two jobs to support herself and her studies. “I can do all the budgeting I want but I’m never completely prepared.”

Nursing students have to buy special white shoes, which cost $130 a pair. They have to purchase uniforms and patches, which at $8 might not seem a lot until you realize you need three or four to go on the uniforms. “There are a lot of little expenses which add up when every penny counts,” said Hosford.

Mendocino College’s RN program, established in 2003, draws applicants who have no prior nursing experience and LVNs who want to transition to RN from their California Licensed Vocational Nursing license.

Each year more than 20 new nurses graduate. Many travel long distances to classes and hospital sites for their education.

Some are single parents or are the primary wage earners for their family. Mendocino College’s RN program has a 96.4 percent graduation rate and 97 percent of the grads remain in Mendocino County to work.

The Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Sutter Lake Hospital and Howard Memorial Hospital contribute annually to fund one of the instructor positions.

“On average, students sacrifice 43 percent of their income while they are in the program,” said Barbara French, Mendocino College’s Director of Nursing.

At the end, state boards and licensing fees cost $400. “Taking the exam right after graduation increases the chance of passing on the first try, which means they enter practice as RN’s quickly,” said French.

“We are looking for donors who would like to support the students in the nursing program, from purchasing the required shoes to paying for a students’ state board exams,” said Katie Wojcieszak, director of the Mendocino College Foundation, which administers scholarships for Mendocino College.  

The Foundation's goal is $10,000 for each graduating class.  

Hosford, who now lives in Redwood Valley, will graduate in Spring 2013. “After the intense program being supervised by such experienced nurse instructors, it will be so gratifying to apply what I’ve learned and go to work doing what I love as a RN,” she said.

When asked if she would help organize a “shoe campaign” in which she and her fellow alumni make a donation to pay for a nursing student’s shoes, without hesitation Hosford answers, “Yes!” To her, investing in the nursing program “guarantees a return on investment.”

“Supporting the Mendocino College nursing program is supporting students like Kristy Hosford,” said Wojcieszak.

For information regarding the Mendocino College Foundation or about making a donation, call the Mendocino College Foundation office at 707-467-1018 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .