By Emma Lang and Teresa Hicks

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing is where Taylor Bentley discovered that her passion for helping others would become her purpose.

Her journey began at Birmingham-Southern College, where she played volleyball as an outside hitter and majored in Health Sciences. In March 2024, when BSC announced its closure just before her senior year, she transferred to UAB, a school she had always dreamed of attending as a child.

The transition was facilitated by a dual-degree partnership between the two institutions, through the UAB School of Nursing’s Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway, which enabled her to complete her undergraduate studies and begin her nursing education at UAB.

"It was important for me to choose a school with both an exceptional volleyball program and a strong nursing program,” Bentley said. “BSC made that possible, and through its dual-degree partnership with UAB, I was able to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse at one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. This dual-degree program gave me everything I could have hoped for from my college experience."

The Accelerated Master's in Nursing Pathway (AMNP) is an entry level nursing pathway for individuals with bachelor’s degrees (or higher) in a non-nursing field who desire a career in nursing. The partnership with BSC allowed their students to complete their bachelor’s degree in three and a half years there and be dual enrolled in the UAB School of Nursing for one semester. Students worked toward their master’s degrees as part of the AMNP for that semester, and credits also transferred to apply to their BSC bachelor’s degree. The UABSON has similar partnerships with other institutions, including Millsaps College and Huntingdon College, providing additional pathways for students to begin their nursing master’s coursework.

Bentley had wanted to become a nurse ever since she watched nurses care for her younger sister when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 11 years old. Seeing how the nurses helped her sister showed Bentley the importance of good bedside care. It became clear to her that her dream was to make a difference in someone’s life, especially during their most challenging moments.

"I have always wanted to do something associated with health care, but seeing the meaningful relationships and impact the nurses had on my family, I knew nursing was where my passion was,” Bentley said. “Being a nurse means advocating for patients, building trust and giving your best during one of the hardest moments of their lives. Nursing is so much more than a profession; it is putting others before yourself and giving your all for total strangers."

At UAB, she has found more than just a nursing degree; she’s found a community that supports and uplifts her. From helping her design a custom major during her transfer to encouraging her through the intensity of the Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway, the support she has received has been deeply meaningful.

That support has extended to financial assistance as well. As a recipient of the Alice L. McCallum Endowed Nursing Scholarship and the School of Nursing Miscellaneous Scholarship, she’s been able to ease the financial burden on her family, especially her mom, who works multiple jobs while helping care for Bentley’s younger sister.

“Their generosity does not go unappreciated, and it’s because of them that I’m able to pursue the career that I love,” Bentley said.

Thanks to the support and opportunities at the School, Bentley is poised to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the patients she will serve.