A sisterhood of service: keeping healthcare close to home for UofL nursing students

In the bustling emergency department at Owensboro Health, a familiar refrain often echoes down the corridors: "Are you one of those K. Swihart sisters?" For patients and staff alike, answering to just about any variation of the name has simply become part of the job for Kailey, Kassidy and Klaire. Raised on a tight-knit family farm in nearby Hawesville, Ky., the three sisters are not only sharing shifts at the hospital but also building futures through the University of Louisville School of Nursing (SON) Owensboro BSN Extension program.

The path to nursing was a natural calling for the trio. Their mother has spent a quarter of a century in the profession, working across cardiac care and labor and delivery. Watching her passion inspired her daughters, though their individual journeys into healthcare took different shapes. 

Kailey (Swihart) Boone, 23, initially explored psychology before pivoting to nursing. Her sister Kassidy (Swihart) Velotta, 21, found her direction after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a chronic illness that involves a group of 13 inherited connective tissue disorders that weaken collagen or related proteins in the body. Having felt unheard by providers during her own medical journey, she resolved to become a compassionate, listening ear for others. Youngest sister Klaire Swihart, 18, just recently began her UofL nursing journey in fall 2026 after watching her older sisters thrive in nursing school solidified a lifelong ambition.

While the desire to serve was clear, leaving their rural community to pursue a top-tier education would have been a hurdle. That is where UofL’s Owensboro extension program bridged the gap. By bringing highly qualified UofL faculty and a dynamic, research-backed curriculum directly to the region, local students can earn a valuable bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree without leaving their support systems.

How does UofL offer close-to-home education?

"Being able to stay home and stay close to my parents and my little brother was very important to me," said Kailey, who graduated in May 2025. Kassidy, who followed closely behind with her degree in December 2025, said that being near home base while pursuing her nursing degree made it easier to balance an intense curriculum while doing wedding planning. For Klaire, who just began the program and works as an emergency department technician at Owensboro Health alongside her sisters, saving money while living at home surrounded by a built-in network of mentors was of great benefit. 

Beyond the convenience of location, the Swihart sisters said that the UofL nursing program has demonstrated deep compassion for student well-being. When Kailey suffered a severe bout of sepsis during her first semester, faculty members worked with her closely to accommodate her recovery time. Later, after a car accident left her with a concussion, they arranged a quiet, darkened classroom for testing—the same supportive environment provided for her ADHD accommodations.

"They really just set you up to thrive," Kailey said, praising the program's easy-to-access tutoring system. Kassidy echoes the sentiment: "The clinical instructors actually care about you. If you are having any issues, they try to find a solution."

This tailored approach to education doesn’t just benefit individual students but also drives regional workforce development in the rural region surrounding Owensboro – counties federally designated as medically underserved health professional shortage areas. 

UofL Owensboro extension program helps fill healthcare gap in Kentucky

The Owensboro extension program has graduated more than 500 nurses since its inception in 2009, channeling highly skilled professionals into the regional healthcare system. Through a robust collaboration with Owensboro Health, students receive financial assistance in exchange for local service commitments, keeping healthcare talent exactly where it is needed most.

Working in the community where they grew up brings a unique sense of satisfaction to the Swihart sisters. "It is nice to be able to serve the community that we do know," Kailey said. "We can be a friendly, familiar face so they don't feel as alone on their worst days."

As Klaire looks toward her expected graduation in 2028, the sisters' professional aspirations continue to expand. While they all currently find purpose in the adrenaline of emergency medicine, a UofL BSN opens endless opportunities. Kailey dreams of one day exploring hospice or flight nursing, Kassidy plans to pursue a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification to address a critical local need and Klaire hopes to eventually explore the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

By educating local students to serve local families, the UofL School of Nursing is creating a sustainable cycle of care across the commonwealth. For the Swihart sisters, it means keeping their family traditions, their careers and their hearts rooted firmly at home.