Success Spotlights

Alumnus Profile - Nathan Solares: Military Veteran, Father & Vocational Nurse

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated May 20, 2024. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Nathan Solares, Concorde alumnus in cap and gown with son.

Ready to Meet a Unicorn?

Meet Nathan Solares. He’s a military veteran, a father of two, worked on clinical trials that helped develop the COVID-19 vaccine and oh yes— he’s a Concorde Career College alumnus.

Mr. Solares graduated from Concorde Garden Grove in 2019 as a Vocational Nurse. Since then, he’s been a hospice nurse, a school nurse for kids with special needs and the lead pediatric nurse for St. Joseph’s Medical Health Group where he hopes to move into a supervisory role. Nathan says that he is “prepared every single day because of my instructors here at Concorde and from the opportunities experienced in the skills labs and clinical setting.”

One of the most meaningful parts of his education with Concorde was the opportunity to do clinical rotations at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital (VA). As a Navy corpsman, Nathan was proud of the difference he made for the Afghan people and for his fellow servicemen. Seeing and helping the wounded is what got him interested in becoming a nurse. Participating in clinical rotations in the VA setting was a real full-circle moment for him.

Nathan remembers that when he first left the military, the transition was tough. He felt what he did in the military made a difference, and he wanted his civilian life to be equally fulfilling. He gets that same sense of community and contribution from being a nurse. “I find that purpose every single day. I get up every single day knowing that I am making a difference in someone’s life.” He would encourage other veterans to follow a similar path with Concorde as the place to get the education needed. “To me, Concorde Career College is a family that you can depend on and always know they’re going to be there for you when you need it. What’s stopping you other than yourself?”

Learn more about a lvn vs. lpn

 

An Optimistic Outlook for the Future

Nathan Solares, Concorde Vocational Nursing Program Alumnus in scrubs


Nathan is motivated by family, security and doing well professionally. He’s optimistic about his career outlook and about choosing the healthcare profession. He knows nurses, medical assistants, pharmacy techs and many other roles are in high demand. He’s seen it firsthand.

“The impact that my career has on me, how I feel about myself, is it’s raised my self-esteem, my confidence and my drive.”

Nathan embraces change that is coming in healthcare. He’s aware that his skills will continuously need updating as more medical technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) come into hospitals. But he also points out that it’s “the compassion that a human can give to a patient or to a family that can never be met by a machine. A nurse is the most valuable asset in a hospital,” he stated with confidence.

To continue advancing in his career, Nathan desires to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and we have no doubt he’ll accomplish this goal. While Concorde does not offer this advanced nursing degree, we are proud to have acted as his entry-point into the nursing field and support him every step of the way.

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

Interested in learning more about our Practical / Vocational Nursing program? We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.