Thursday, November 27, 2025
CVTC nursing student pushes through to graduate
Nicole Bateson, 34, of Chippewa Falls, attends Chippewa Valley Technical College in River Falls, and will graduate with a degree in nursing.
It’s no surprise that Nicole Bateson will graduate from Chippewa Valley Technical College this month as a registered nurse. For the better part of a year, she has been the primary support person for a family member who is struggling with mental health.
“It has been an emotionally, physically, and financially taxing year,” she said. “To say I have been concerned for their well-being and life would not be an understatement.”
However, Bateson, 34, of Chippewa Falls, was determined to complete her schooling and earn a nursing degree from CVTC in River Falls. She balanced school, clinicals and long commutes to and from school.
Despite the adversity, Bateson found support at CVTC. She said instructors showed flexibility, when possible, by rescheduling an exam and accommodating occasional absences, while maintaining the academic standards necessary for accreditation. Bateson said she’s grateful for both the compassion and the expectations.
“I had heard a lot of praise for the nursing program at CVTC,” she said. “You want your education to be worth the money, and CVTC delivers.”
She believes that CVTC’s approach has well-prepared her for her future career. During clinicals, she repeatedly heard from nursing staff that CVTC students arrive more confident and better prepared than many of their peers. She also credits the culture within her cohort. “None of us are in competition with each other. We do everything we can to support one another,” she said.
As Bateson receives her diploma at commencement, she does so with pride, resilience, and the belief that she’s stepping into the career she was meant to have.
