Imagine you’re given the option to choose your nurse. What are the qualities you’d look for? A calm demeanor? A gentle nature? A warm personality? If those characteristics popped into your mind, Timothy Wilkinson meets them all.

A Rowan College at Burlington County 3+1 Nursing student, Wilkinson is among several RCBC students who recently joined the frontlines against the coronavirus pandemic. He now spends much of his time at the Burlington County Health Department’s COVID-19 testing site. 

“When this (pandemic) hit, I realized I had a set of skills that could be beneficial to the community. And when the call was put out for volunteers, I think it took me fewer than three minutes to respond,” Timothy recalled. “Since then, we’ve tested over 2,500 Burlington County residents. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s also been very rewarding. This is exactly what we had been training for.”

Wilkinson, of Riverside, chose RCBC’s 3+1 pathway due to the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of the program. 

“The 3+1 program was a perfect fit for me. In fact, I couldn’t find a program like it anywhere else,” he shared. 

Although Wilkinson has always held an interest in nursing, he credits his wife, Christine, for pushing him to pursue his degree at age 28.

“Even if I didn’t believe in myself at the time, I had someone who did. It was my wife who convinced me it was a possibility to even go back to school,” Wilkinson recalled. 

Unfortunately, Wilkinson’s wife battles a rare, incurable disease known as idiopathic gastroparesis, a disease characterized by delayed gastric emptying and increased weight loss. 

“Dealing with all that, she’s still been my rock and my support. She’s pushed me to accomplish everything I’ve been able to,” Wilkinson shared. 

Wilkinson plans to continue his education to earn his BSN and a master’s degree, aiming to eventually work in a critical care environment. 

“I think I want to end up in surgery, whether it’s as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist,” Timothy said. 

Now, preparing to graduate, he’s set to receive the RCBC President’s Award which he comments is a surreal and exciting prospect. Wherever he lands, Wilkinson is well-equipped with the skillset, knowledge and demeanor to make a lasting impact in his field.