By Sarah Morgan Johnson
When it comes to choosing a career path, young people can feel overwhelmed by the prospect of such a large decision. As he reflects on his time in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing’s Accelerated Master's in Nursing Pathway graduate Colton Segars, MA, is a firm believer that it is never too late to change your mind and follow your passion.
Segars is no stranger to the School—in fact he grew up in the building. His mother Ashley Hodges, PhD, CRNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN (MSN 1997, PhD 2008), joined the School’s faculty in 2009 and served as Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs from 2018 until her retirement in 2022. His sister Amanda Segars, DNP, CRNA (BSN 2016, DNP 2021), is a two-time alum.
Following in his family’s footsteps, Segars originally came to the School as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student when he was 20 years old. After being in the program for a semester, he decided this was not the path for him. Switching gears, he set out to get his Bachelor of Arts in History from at UAB. He went on to pursue his Master of Arts in History from UAB and worked in the School of Nursing’s Office of Technology and Innovation while he earned his degree.
As a clinical simulation specialist, Segars designed and facilitated clinical simulations for OTI. Specifically, he was assigned to the School’s Blazer Simulation Lab. It was during this time Segars began to reconsider a career in nursing. He worked closely with Professor and Associate Dean for Technology and Innovation Penni Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, FNAP, ANEF, FSSH, FAAN (PhD 2015), and he said she was especially influential in his decision to try nursing school again.
“In the simulation lab I was exposed to the nursing profession from a different perspective, and I changed my mind. I was able to see myself in nursing again,” Segars said. “The coworkers I had in the School were very supportive of me coming back. They wanted me to try again at nursing school and see if it clicked this time. One of my biggest influences in coming back to the School was Dr. Penni Watts. She was very supportive of me and has known me for years, so she played a huge role in my decision.”
Watts was thankful to have Segars on her team, especially during COVID-19.
“As soon as Colton joined our team, I knew he had the heart of a nurse. He has a ‘can do’ attitude and his innovative, creative ideas helped support our faculty and students during a difficult time. As a clinical simulation specialist, he learned a lot about nursing from an operations perspective and it became even more clear he would make a great nurse. Colton has always been kind and curious, and he was an exemplary student. I am confident that the skills he developed in the Blazer Simulation Lab will continue to serve him in his nursing career,” Watts said.
The Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway is a three-semester pathway designed for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to make a career change. With his background in history and interest in the nursing field, Segars felt the AMNP gave him the chance to make a career pivot.
“The AMNP is accelerated, and that was very enticing for me as someone who has already earned two degrees. It is a full nursing program in a condensed format and timeframe. As someone who already has a successful academic record, it is very appealing to be able to complete the degree quickly and enter into the nursing profession,” Segars said.
AMNP students start their clinical education in their second semester. Segars loved seeing his classroom education come to life so soon.
“In this pathway you end up going to clinicals very early on. It's a great experience because you're able to share the knowledge between coursework and the clinical setting. It's great to see how the things we’re learning affect patients in realty time,” Segars said.
The AMNP allows individuals to pursue a career in nursing at any point in life, and Segars said it has been rewarding to learn alongside a diverse cohort.
“The people in my cohort have a wide range of life experiences. Everyone already has a college degree and a lot of them have even had different careers at this point,” Segars said. “No matter what you’ve been at or experienced, you’re all in the same boat moving toward the same goal.”
Segars is thankful for the encouragement he received from AMNP faculty. Additionally, he has been involved with the American Association for Men in Nursing and is also thankful for the support he has found in this group.
Segars is especially appreciative of the donors who funded the UAB School of Nursing Scholarships he received. In the fall of 2024, he received the UAB School of Nursing Board of Visitors Endowed Scholarship and, in the spring of 2024, he received the UAB School of Nursing’s Dean Scholarship. These scholarships allowed Segars to prioritize his studies and alleviated financial stress.
“The School of Nursing offers many scholarships for students. If you receive a scholarship, you can focus on your schoolwork, and you don’t have to worry about the financial aspect. It’s been great to be able to focus on my studies about not worry about tuition,” Segars said.
Segars’ family also has a history of giving back to the School. His late grandfather, Bob Hodges, was a long-time supporter who served on the School’s Campaign Building Committee from 2015 to 2018. In 2024, after the death of Segars’ grandmother, the Hodges family established the Robert L. and Nancy S. Hodges Endowed Scholarship in Nursing to provide scholarship funds to pre-licensure students who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to enter the nursing profession despite personal adversity.
As he looks back on his academic journey, Segars said the School has been a home base for him, and it is rewarding to reflect on how much he has grown. In the future, Segars hopes to return to the School for his Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing. He is extremely grateful for the opportunity the AMNP has given him to make a career shift.
“As a young person it is very difficult to make a life-changing decision. It is strange to be placed in a position where one decision feels like it can change the rest of your life. The beauty of the AMNP is that one year of school can completely change your path. That’s a great thing for a lot of young people and older people as well who feel stuck in their career. There is a way out, and there is more education out there and a different career for you,” Segars said.
