Elizabeth Lucas ’16: From Shenandoah Classroom to Full‑Scope Certified Nurse Midwife
Elizabeth (Ogle) Lucas ’16 (Bachelor of Science in nursing) has built a meaningful career as a full‑scope certified nurse midwife, a path that began with her dream of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. She credits Shenandoah University with giving her the education, clinical experience, and confidence to step into that role and grow into the provider she is today.
Her journey from SU nursing student to certified nurse midwife highlights how hands‑on learning, supportive mentorship, and travel opportunities and more broaden SU nursing students’ skills, perspectives and possibilities.
One of the things she remembers most fondly is the strong sense of community within the nursing program. She recalls the comradery between professors and students, describing it as a learning environment that truly felt like family — whether in the classroom or out in clinical settings.
“The faculty was very supportive in all settings. They were always available to answer questions, dialogue about situations or scenarios I experienced, and provide feedback to help me improve,” she said.
Lucas also took her education beyond the borders of campus, traveling to Belize and Haiti during her time at SU. Those global experiences left a lasting impact, offering invaluable lessons she still reflects on more than a decade later.
“During my global experiences, I learned about global health, different cultures, and got hands-on experience providing healthcare in third-world settings. I learned there can be different ways to achieve the same goal/outcome and flexibility is a necessary attribute,” Lucas said.
