From High School Dropout to Health Care Leader: Elizabeth Worley’s CareerTech Success Story
Elizabeth Worley’s journey to a successful nursing career wasn’t a straight path—it was one of resilience, perseverance and a deep passion for helping others. From leaving high school at 16 to becoming a leader in mental health services, Worley credits CareerTech with giving her the foundation to build an extraordinary career in health care.
After dropping out of high school, she found work at Cordell Christian Home (now Cordell Nursing and Rehab), where she discovered a passion for patient care. She earned her certified nurse aide certification and by age 20 had completed her GED. Encouraged by a colleague, she applied to the practical nursing program at Western Technology Center in Burns Flat — a decision that set her on a remarkable path.
“At Western Technology Center, I received the richest clinical experiences with no comparison for my career,” Worley said. “I was so prepared for future clinical settings as I advanced in my nursing.”
After earning her licensed practical nurse certification in 2011, Worley continued to climb the health care ladder. She became a registered nurse in 2014, then earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Oklahoma City University in 2016.
During the pandemic, Worley took on leadership roles in various nursing capacities, and in 2023, she became the program director at Cordell Memorial Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions, an intensive outpatient therapy program focused on senior mental health.
“Getting to help our overlooked senior population and educate our communities about mental health is the most rewarding part of my career,” she said.
Her career has been marked by incredible achievements. Phi Theta Kappa nominated her for the International Scholar Laureate Program in Australia, where she studied rural health care challenges. She became a nationally certified psychiatric mental health registered nurse and is now pursuing a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree at Duke University, with plans to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree by 2028.
Despite her busy schedule, Worley is committed to giving back. She volunteers as a court-appointed special advocate for children in foster care and dreams of creating an outpatient mental health program to support this vulnerable population.
Her CareerTech experience didn’t just prepare her for a job, Worley said, it set the foundation for a lifelong journey in health care, leadership and advocacy.
“The journey is worth it. Part of learning is failing, and though it may feel like the end when you fail, it’s an opportunity to become better,” she said. “If someone had told me when I dropped out of high school that I would be doing what I am today, I would have laughed. The WTC practical nursing program was just the beginning. You never know what you’re capable of until you try.”
In 2024, her journey came full circle when her oldest son, Samuel, graduated from WTC’s pre-engineering program, the very same technology center where her own career began.
