Kiara Taylor

A personal journey to a career in nursing

Kiara Taylor’s interest in nursing is personal—she was inspired to one day join the profession when a nurse helped to catch her Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis back in 2009.

Though her journey to the job hasn’t come without obstacles, Kiara’s passion to help others and the support she received from Malcolm X College’s nursing program pushed her through. She graduated from Malcolm X’s Associate Degree in Nursing program in December 2021 and passed her NCLEX, the national nursing licensure exam, shortly thereafter.

Now, Kiara is gaining hands-on experience in the field by working as a medical surgical nurse at the University of Chicago Medicine.

As Kiara continues her education and begins her career, she says she’s prepared for her next steps. She credits the expert faculty at Malcolm X College for instilling every nursing skill and concept there is into her.

“I feel very prepared to enter the workforce,” Kiara said. “I’m just wondering if the workforce is prepared for me.”

On May 5th, during a press conference announcing the expansion of healthcare programs and facilities on the South Side of Chicago with Mayor Brandon Johnson, Kiara spoke about her journey into the field and shared her excitement that more students, especially South Siders, can pursue their healthcare dreams.

“If someone had told me years ago that this little girl from the south side of Chicago would grow up to become a nurse and be here speaking to you all today about the journey to get here, I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” Kiara said.

Watch this video from CBS News featuring Kiara and the new healthcare education opportunities at Kennedy-King College and Malcolm X College:  https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/partnership-chicago-education-medical-future-professionals