Alumni Spotlight: Lauren Cole Brown, BSN, RN (Class of December 2007) Nurse Content & Graphic Design Specialist for Archer Review
At the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, students are prepared not only for the bedside, but for the many directions a nursing career can take. For alumna Lauren Brown, BSN, RN, that preparation carried her from cardiac nursing and eight years in the catherization laboratory (cath-lab) through burnout, a career pivot, and ultimately back to nursing in a new and unexpected way. Today, she combines the clinical foundation she built at UK with creative design skills to shape the future of nursing education — proving that a UK nursing degree is a lifelong gateway to possibility.
From Cardiac Nursing to Creative Education:
Can you tell us about your journey from being a nursing student to where you are in your career today?
My journey has been anything but linear. As soon as we studied the cardiac unit in nursing school, I knew I wanted to work in cardiac nursing. I excelled academically, but I quickly learned that being good at exams doesn’t define the kind of nurse you’ll be.
I began my career on a telemetry step-down unit and later moved into the cath-lab as a circulating nurse. I worked full time and took overnight call for emergencies for eight years. While I gained invaluable experience, I also struggled. I found it difficult to move past mistakes, and over time, burnout took a serious toll on my mental health.
I made the difficult decision to step away from bedside nursing. I felt ashamed and believed I had failed. I transitioned into banking operations — a stable but unfulfilling role. I missed using my nursing knowledge.
Everything shifted when I became pregnant with my first child and learned he would be born with chronic kidney disease. Navigating his care reignited my confidence and advocacy skills. My nursing education empowered me to fight for him!
I realized I had never stopped being a nurse. I had maintained my license — I just needed to reimagine how I used it.
After building graphic design skills in my banking career, I launched a freelancing profile that led me to Archer Review. Today, I work remotely with nurses and medical professionals across the country to create engaging, visually driven educational content for future nurses.
Reclaiming my identity as a nurse has been deeply healing for both me and my family.
What role do graphic design and technology play in modern nursing?
Learning styles have evolved. Technology shapes how students process information, and nursing education must evolve with it.
Many students are visual learners. Through medical illustrations and intentional design, we transform static material into engaging, memorable learning tools. Nursing has always adapted to the times — and education should, too.
A Moment of Pride:
Can you share a time you felt particularly proud as a nurse?
I once advocated all day for a patient to be transferred to the ICU. I knew they needed a higher level of care. Eventually, the transfer happened.
The patient later wrote me a heartfelt card and gifted me an angel figurine, which I still display in my home. That moment reinforced the importance of advocacy — even when it’s difficult.
Advice for Future Nurses:
What advice would you give current students and recent graduates?
Becoming a nurse is so much more than passing the NCLEX. There will be moments that feel like failure. Those moments do not define you. Your nursing license is a powerful gateway to countless opportunities — bedside care, education, leadership, advocacy, and beyond.
Burnout does not have to be the end of your story. It may take time, but you can find your way back.
You never stop being a nurse.
Just for Fun:
If you could have any superpower in nursing, what would it be?
To appear on the shoulder of my former patients as a tiny, Disney-sized nurse and say, “Don’t eat that!” or “Take your medication — even if you’re feeling better!”
Nursing School Memory:
One of Lauren’s favorite memories from her early semesters at the UK College of Nursing: attending the annual “Nursing Ball.” The event location and dress code were changed at the last minute — but Lauren and four friends missed the memo and arrived in full formal gowns. “We were mortified at the time,” she laughs. Their instructor, Carol Riker, asked to take a photo with them — a moment that has since become a cherished memory.
Lauren was also featured on the Lexington Public Library’s podcast, "Tales from the Kentucky Room," where she shares more about her creative work and professional journey. We invite you to listen to her episode and learn more about the experiences that continue to shape her path in nursing and beyond: https://www.lexpublib.org/podcasts/tales-kentucky-room/episodes/quilting-kentuckys-stories-silent-visitors-lauren-cole-brown
The UK College of Nursing values its graduates and wants to stay connected with nursing alumni! If you have a spotlight suggestion, please email our Alumni Program Coordinator today at Brittany.Fiero@uky.edu.
