MARIETTA, OHIO — For Colton Thieman, Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) was more than a stepping stone to a career, it set the direction for his future. A decade and a half after graduating from WSCO’s Associate Degree in Nursing program, Thieman is now giving back by dedicating his career to developing and mentoring the next generation of nurses.
Thieman’s connection to WSCO began early. In high school, he was already familiar with the college’s strong reputation in the community and took college-credit courses through WSCO as a college credit plus student. Although he knew he wanted to help people, he wasn’t yet sure how. That desire to serve others ultimately led him to nursing, a field that aligned with his values and offered both opportunity and stability.
WSCO felt like the right place for Thieman to begin his journey, thanks to its small class sizes, hands-on learning, and welcoming environment. With the support and encouragement of WSCO’s dedicated faculty, he soon discovered that nursing was more than a career path, it was something he was truly meant to pursue. Thieman credits the college’s close-knit classes and practical, experience-driven approach for helping him build confidence and skills, even without prior healthcare experience. “The smaller classes allowed me to learn directly from experienced professionals and to build confidence through repetition and support,” he shared.
That calling was nurtured by WSCO’s supportive, yet stimulating environment. “The program pushed us to meet high expectations while helping us recognize our own strengths,” Thieman explained. “It was personal and engaging but also gave us the independence to grow. By the time I graduated, I felt confident stepping into professional practice and ready to meet the challenges that came with it.”
Through clinical rotations, labs, and hands-on experiences, Thieman learned to connect theory with real-world practice. The program focused on translating classroom and lab knowledge into patient care, providing meaningful clinical and observational opportunities that highlighted the role of nurses within the broader continuum of a patient’s experience. “WSCO prepared me to think critically and clinically,” he said. “The faculty designed experiences that helped us understand how our work as future nurses fits into the larger picture of patient care. That understanding became the foundation for my confidence as a new nurse.”
Thieman’s career has spanned leadership, education, and community service. He has worked with Amedisys Hospice in Marietta, caring for residents of Washington County and the surrounding region, and later served as a clinical manager during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to lead his hospice team through unprecedented challenges. “WSCO’s strong preparation gave me the confidence, adaptability, and leadership skills needed to guide both patients and staff through those times,” he said.
Today, one of Thieman’s proudest accomplishments is helping to develop Camden Clark Medical Center’s Nurse Residency Program. Those foundational skills; communication, reasoning, and teamwork, continue to shape his approach as he mentors new nurses. “Now, as an educator, I often draw on that same experience, recognizing when to adjust my approach to better meet the needs of the learners I’m instructing,” he explained. “Over time, my mission to help others has evolved into serving nursing itself, supporting those who care for our patients and communities, because by empowering nurses, we strengthen the care every patient receives.”
“WSCO gave me the foundation to think critically, lead with compassion, and recognize that developing others is one of the most meaningful ways to make an impact. Those same skills allow me to communicate ideas clearly, teach effectively, and influence others positively. WSCO also instilled in me a commitment to lifelong learning, which continues to guide how I approach my own development and practice as a nurse and educator,” shared Thieman.
Looking back, Thieman credits WSCO for helping him discover not just his career, but his true calling. “WSCO changed the course of my life by placing me in an environment where I could truly flourish,” he said. “It connected me with mentors who helped me see that nursing could lead in many different directions, and that my education there was really the beginning of limitless possibilities.”
