A career in nursing was always Jokira Jiles’ ultimate goal. Her journey began with earning a pre-nursing bachelor’s degree in public health and working as a case manager and special education teacher in Florida — experiences that taught her how to prioritize resources and set individualized goals. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at the Denver College of Nursing campus in Houston, Texas, Jiles is now completing her residency on a cardiac telemetry floor at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Navigating the demands of school — while also working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) — came with challenges, but Jiles had steady support and encouragement from DCN staff and faculty members.
“I felt heard and appreciated throughout my program from the beginning to the end,” she says. “In my nursing program, I spent time really homing in on foundation courses. Now I am able to come back and apply those skills and things that I learned.”
Finding the Right Fit at DCN’s Houston Campus
When Jiles moved to Houston, she began searching for nursing schools that could help her pursue her long-term goals. She didn’t know what to expect when she began researching programs in the area, but one college stood out. With its accelerated format, which can be completed in as little as 21 months (with required prerequisites), and high pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), DCN’s Houston-based BSN completion program provided the robust clinical and leadership skills she was looking for.
“I had not heard much about Denver College of Nursing,” she recalls. “I did some research, and a lot of the school stats spoke for themselves. Even though the Houston campus was brand new, I knew it was going to provide the best instructors and the best system here in Houston. It was a great opportunity to build with a nursing program that already has a great reputation.”
Her experience during the admissions process sealed the deal. Soon after, she applied and was accepted. And now she’s part of the second graduating class ever from the Houston campus.
Endless Support from DCN
Once she started the program, Jiles quickly faced her first challenge – balancing the workload. The courses moved fast, and effective time management became essential. Rather than waiting until she fell behind, she took a proactive approach and reached out to her instructors early for guidance.
“I really nipped things early on,” she says. “As soon as courses started, and I felt like it was going to be a challenge from day one, I would immediately reach out, asking for a resource for how I could manage the course and prepare for exams. … All of the resources that I needed were there. I wasn’t afraid to reach out, and the support was endless.”
The school’s course on medication dosage is one example. When Jiles realized the Houston campus didn’t have extra support for that subject, the DCN team stepped in to help her find a solution. “We didn’t have a tutor for dosage on the campus,” she explains. “I reached out to the dean with ideas, and we ended up being connected to a wonderful staff member on the Denver campus. We were able to work with them weekly, and they gave us packets and practice questions.”
Receiving that support from the dean was monumental for Jiles. “You know you’re going to finish and be successful within the program when you are backed with the support of your dean,” she says.
How DCN’s Houston Campus Prepared Jiles for Her Residency at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
Jiles credits DCN’s Houston program with preparing her for the fast pace and complexity of her nursing residency at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. The program emphasized building a strong foundation in nursing science and taking simulation exercises seriously. These now-engrained habits help her tackle her daily schedule on the cardiac telemetry floor. She starts shifts early and takes notes throughout the day to document everything she learned from the day’s work.
In addition to preparing her for the clinical aspects of nursing, DCN’s faculty and staff also encouraged Jiles to think about leadership roles. Those conversations shaped how she saw herself and where she could grow as a leader. Now, she aspires to become a director of a medical-surgical unit or a similar role where she can advocate for the needs of nurses on the floor.
“The instructors didn’t just focus on the class I was taking at the time,” Jiles says. “They also gave me feedback on my career goals. If I wanted to move into leadership, they encouraged me to build confidence, trust my own judgment, and strengthen my communication skills. That support helped me start laying out my long-term plan.”
Accelerate Your Nursing Career With a BSN From Denver College of Nursing in Houston
With support from the faculty and staff of Denver College of Nursing’s Houston campus, Jiles is turning her passion for care into a nursing career. DCN’s Houston-based accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), approved by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), and operated under regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
DCN’s Houston-based BSN completion program is designed for students who have already completed general education and foundational prerequisites and are ready to focus on nursing coursework. Those who transfer the maximum possible credits can complete the seven-quarter curriculum in as little as 21 months. The program emphasizes both technical nursing skills and leadership to ensure that graduates are prepared to pass the NCLEX-RN and handle the challenges of today’s healthcare system.
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