Logan Lorenz ’25BSN was one of three nursing students who took a road trip in a green RV across Florida as part of “Nursing Possibilities,” Roadtrip Nation’s latest two-episode documentary that explored career opportunities in healthcare.
“It’s important to realize the destination you’re trying to reach is often the journey itself,” says Logan Lorenz ’25BSN, a Georgia native who now calls Central Florida home.
His journey to become a Knight nurse involved a previous career in marketing, years of taking nursing prerequisites, and an unforgettable 18-day road trip across Florida in the middle of completing the accelerated second-degree BSN program at UCF.
Seizing an Opportunity
When Lorenz received an email about the documentary Roadtrip Nation seeking nursing students in Florida, he thought why not? The unique opportunity was a perfect fit for Lorenz, who not only had a previous career in marketing but also had previous on-camera experience as a child reporter.
In Spring 2025, with bags and books packed, Lorenz boarded Roadtrip Nation’s bright green RV with two other nursing students for a 300-mile road trip across the Sunshine State.
In between driving and studying on the road, Lorenz and his fellow roadtrippers interviewed 12 nurses across specialties, from bedside providers to leaders and entrepreneurs, to gain valuable insights into their future profession.
“I learned that everyone’s nursing journey was so different and that they have all worked in multiple areas,” he says. “That’s one of the things I love about nursing is the fact that I can do so many different things and still be a nurse.”
One of the most memorable pieces of advice came from an LPN he interviewed in Jacksonville. “I’m a planner and I was focused on looking beyond being a student and passing NCLEX,” says Lorenz. “He helped me remember to be excited about, and focus on, what is happening now.”
Lorenz says the road trip had many similarities to nursing school. “It’s going to be difficult at times, with a lot of emotions in the middle, but you will make it through and at the end, discover it was so worth it,” he says. “It is something that I will always look back at with such happiness. It was such a cool opportunity.”
Taking the First Step
Logan’s journey to Knight nurse began ten years after he completed his first bachelor’s degree in marketing. He was inspired to change careers to healthcare after watching his father care for his mother at the end of her battle with cancer.
After evaluating options in healthcare and doing a lot of research, he decided on nursing. “It aligned with what I wanted in a career and how I wanted to practice medicine,” he says.
But it was a medical resident he met who inspired him to officially take the first step. The resident was in her 50s and becoming a medical doctor after a two decades of working as a teacher.
“Truly anyone can go back and change their careers if they want to,” he says. “Everyone’s journey is different, but when you’re ready to make a change, it just takes courage to start the process. From there, just go one step at a time.”
His first step was working through the nursing prerequisites, which he completed one at a time while continuing to work full time. Once those were completed, he applied to UCF.
“The accelerated option, which is just four semesters, was a huge deal on top of knowing the college’s excellent reputation,” he says.
Turning Advice into Action
After graduating last August and passing the NCLEX, Lorenz began his career as a registered nurse on a cardiac progressive care unit at Orlando Health.
“I liked that it’s a slightly higher acuity and you can spend a bit more time with your patients,” he says. “I am learning a lot and I get to work with an amazing team.”
His first experience in a progressive care unit began at UCF, as part of a dedicated education unit — a unique clinical opportunity where nursing students are paired with hospital staff for six weeks to gain a more realistic preparation for clinical practice.
“UCF prepares top quality nurses, and its name precedes its students in a positive light as healthcare organizations know how strenuous the program is and the caliber of student it produces,” he says.
Now that he’s enjoying his journey as a nurse, he would share the following advice with future students, “Have realistic expectations. Give yourself time to decide whether you like a specialty or not. There are going to be terrible days and there will be amazing days, and you’re going to make it through.”
Watch Roadtrip Nation’s Nursing PossibilitiesArticle by Julie Harper ’01
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