Dyamond Hall knew she wanted to be a nurse from a very young age.
“Since childhood, I have been drawn to helping others. I fondly remember playing nurse with my great-grandmother, using her clipboard to pretend I was documenting patient care,” she says.
Hall, who graduated from Chaffey College with a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) certificate and an Associate of Science degree in Nursing from San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), completed her studies by taking one or two classes at a time while working full-time and managing family responsibilities.
“The flexibility and affordability of community college allowed me to pursue my goals without compromising my commitments at home,” she says.
Hall says she greatly values the strong foundation and connections her LVN certificate provided for her nursing career. “The dedicated faculty and the lasting friendships I formed made the experience truly impactful,” she says.
At SBVC, Hall was active as a member of the Valley Student Nurse Association, where she networked with peers and grew professionally. The faculty there was committed to student success: “They were always available and genuinely invested in our education.”
Those community college experiences helped launch Dyamond into a healthcare sector that continues to grow, offering good-paying jobs and plentiful opportunities.
In fact, healthcare is one of the top five fastest-growing regional industries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Registered nurses are among the top five “critical regional occupations” (readysetcareer.org). Nationally by 2030, demand is expected to rise 16.8% for registered nurses, 18.2% for nursing assistants, 25.7% for medical assistants, and 19.8% for home health aides (bls.gov).
“This journey has opened new career opportunities, increased my financial stability, and allowed me to be a role model for my children and community,” Hall says.
Hall is a newly licensed RN and is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) thanks to a concurrent enrollment option during her RN program.
Her educational journey has not only provided the benefits of working in a growing healthcare sector, but it has also put her on a purposeful path in helping others.
“Witnessing a patient recover and get a second chance at life is incredibly rewarding,” she says. “For me, nursing is more than a profession — it’s a calling and a way to be a blessing to others, doing meaningful work that feels like a reflection of a higher purpose.”
Nursing is among a wide range of healthcare career education programs offered at community colleges throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Degrees and certificates can be earned in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, Community Health Care-Gerontology, Dental Assistant and Hygienist, Emergency Medical Services and Paramedic, Home Health Aide, Medical Assisting, Nursing Assistant, Nutrition/Dietician, Pharmacy Technology, Phlebotomy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric Technology, Public Health, Radiological Technology, Respiratory Therapy, and Sonography and Tomography.
The READY Career Education website can help students find the program that works best for them.