Spotlight on Ohlone

Fresh blood in nursing program

By Tseten Dolkar, Staff writer.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 — Monitor.

Nurse Sharon Briggs.

When asked about her job, Sharon Briggs said she is living her “life-long dream to teach.” Briggs, a Geriatric Content Expert certified by the California Board of Nursing, is an instructor for the second year nursing program.

Having been raised in Berney Falls, in the foothills of Yosemite, Briggs describes herself as a “mountain girl” who enjoyes the outdoors and the wide variety of activities it provided. Among other things, she fly-fishes, kayaks and, in 1989, placed 15th in Women’s Amateur Windsurfing in the nation.

After graduating from Highland Hospital School with a diploma, Briggs went onto Mills College for a nursing certificate. Following her nursing license from the State, Briggs worked for 10 years as a nurse in pediatrics, surgical and critical care. She then began in-service education in the emergency rooms, and so marked the beginning of her career as a teacher.

In 1975, Briggs started the Health Occupation program at Lassen Community College in Susanville. It was after seven years that her husband was transferred to Redding, she began teaching at Shasta College and became a LVN Specialist.

Briggs then enrolled at Chico State to pursue a master’s degree, but she became sick last year with different illnesses and was bed-ridden. Only after consulting with a specialist was her condition identified as Lyme disease. Determined to make up for lost time, she finished her master’s and graduated in 2005.

Briggs’ students Laura Salinaro, Jill Ingraham and Kathryn Miranda all described Briggs as a teacher with “no ego, and someone who cares about her students.” Briggs said she is “destined to help people in whatever way [she] could.” Briggs is passionate about what she does, which, in healthcare, she said requires “a calling.” With 43 years of experience behind her, she could be earning more at hospitals, but chooses instead to prepare future nurses at Ohlone. As she toured the Newark Center’s nursing labs, she enthusiastically spoke in-depth about Ohlone’s new Simulation Center, one of only a handful in the Bay Area.

Briggs is a mother of three and has three grandchildren. Briggs’ webpage, which was the thesis project for her master’s, can be reached at: mycoplasmasupport.org.

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Related Links at Ohlone College

• Registered Nursing