Released on August 2, 2023

From musical theater to bartender to now Knight nurse, Kris Hysler — who graduates Saturday — is ready for her next adventure and proves you’re never too old to start over.

UCF nursing student Kris Hysler in front of the reflecting pond with graduation flags along the edge.
Kris Hysler near UCF’s Reflecting Pond. (Photo by Dana Saccoccio)

Kristen “Kris” Hysler is not your typical nursing student. At the age of 38, she’s nearly the oldest in her accelerated second degree bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) cohort — a program that fast-tracks career changers to a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 15 months.

When she walks across the stage at Addition Financial Arena this Saturday, she already has a job waiting. After she takes the national registered nurse (RN) licensure exam, Hysler will begin the RN transition-to-practice residency at the Orlando VA. She hopes to eventually practice in critical care, but says, “wherever they put me, I’ll be happy.”

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