Tracy Kraft

Spotlight on Nursing's Tracy Kraft,
Second-year nursing student

What are friends for?

For Tracy Kraft, her best friend helped her begin a career in nursing.

“I waitressed for many years and always enjoyed working and interacting with the public,” she explained. “Fifteen years ago, my best friend asked me to go back to school with her for the LPN program. I did and loved it.” 

Tracy studied nursing at the Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing and graduated in 2000 and has worked as an LPN in the emergency department at East Liverpool City Hospital for several years. She said she always wanted to go back to school to become an RN, but finding the time to do so was the challenge.

“I never thought it was a good time,” she said. “Then one day last year, I thought to myself: ‘no time like now.’ The healthcare field is always changing and I have been interested in many other areas of nursing. Being an LPN was limiting what I could do or advance to.”

Tracy said that she chose the Kent State East Liverpool nursing program because it is in her hometown and close to where she works. “But, I work with a lot of RNs who have graduated from here and attended here, and all had good things to say about the nursing program at Kent State East Liverpool.”

Through her work in the emergency department, Tracy became a certified medical review officer assistant (MROA) and conducts drug and alcohol testing for workplace compliance. She is also a Department of Transportation trainer and a breath alcohol technician.

“I currently work as an LPN in the emergency department and love what I do. It is never a dull moment and I’m always learning something new,” she said. “I would love to stay here as an RN, but I am also interested in occupational health nursing.”