Henning Garvin

From Linguistics to Nursing

I knew the second half of my working life would be different from the first.

I worked in language preservation for the Ho-Chunk Nation for many years; it’s deeply gratifying and important work. I’ve also worked in government and leadership positions for the tribal nation. But now it’s time for a change.

I’ve seen first-hand the impact a great nurse can have, especially on those vulnerable and hurting. The role nurses have in healthcare stands out to me—where would we be without them? The pandemic came, and I took that as a sign to make the move. I love the idea of making an impact and a difference where it’s most needed. At the age of 45, I’m officially part of a tight-knit nursing cohort in Black River Falls.

I looked at various nursing programs and chose Western’s. It’s a flexible, hands-on learning experience with great instructors—all of them are top-notch.