Charts, intravenous lines, and caring for patients are all a typical day of work for Howard Payne University student Annie-Klein Allgood. 

Allgood is a junior nursing major from Brownwood. Along with her classes and clinical rotations, she also has an internship at Hendrick Medical Center as a nurse technician. 

“As a nursing major, I am able to go and work under a nurse at the hospital,” Allgood said. “Under supervision, I am able to chart for them and place and remove IV’s and foley catheters. I get great hands-on experience to implement things I’ve learned in the classroom.”

She added that her internship has caused her to become more excited to enter her field. 

“You can sit in a classroom and learn from a book all day, but it’s so different when you get to go and be with patients,” Allgood said. “My internship is different from my clinicals too. Clinicals are only once a week, but I get to go to my internship any day that I want to work.”

Allgood said upon graduation she wants to stay at Hendrick Medical Center, either in Brownwood or Abilene, and eventually become a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“I have always wanted to be a nurse, but I decided on being a NICU nurse because I had cousins who were born premature,” Allgood said. “They were in the NICU for two months, and I went to see them several times.”

Dr. Laci Sutton, assistant professor of nursing and dean of the School of Nursing, is proud of Allgood and her work in and out of the classroom

“From the classroom to the clinical setting, Annie-Klein consistently demonstrates professionalism, leadership skills and a genuine heart for patients,” said Dr. Sutton. “She represents the very best of our program, and I have no doubt she will make a profound impact as a NICU nurse. She is also an outstanding class representative who advocates for her classmates with integrity and care.”

Allgood said she is thankful for the small class sizes at HPU, and they have helped her find people to lean on throughout nursing school.

“Everyone here is so welcoming,” Allgood said. “Our classes are small, so you make very personal relationships with everyone. That is very helpful in nursing school, because it takes a village to get through it.”

Allgood’s favorite thing about HPU is being able to talk about the Lord without judgment.

“We’re very open about our faith and we pray a lot,” Allgood said. “We pray before every exam. It brings me a lot of comfort.”

She added that she has grown in her relationship with Jesus since she transferred to HPU.

“I have been able to surround myself with friends who are rooted in Christ,” Allgood said.

Allgood transferred to HPU after playing softball for two years at North Central Texas College. She played at HPU last year, before deciding to focus on school. She lives at home with her parents and is very close with her family. She also attends Salt Creek Baptist Church in Early. 

For more information about HPU’s School of Nursing, visit www.hputx.edu/nursing or call 325-649-8182.