October 20, 2025
Story and photo by Joe Vinduska
After completing Barton’s Nursing Program and later earning her master’s, Shelbi Frees is now giving back to her community as a nurse practitioner in her hometown at Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic.
“I grew up watching my mother care for people as a nurse, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” she said. “The most satisfying part of being a nurse is helping people. Nurses have the privilege of being able to spend a lot of time with their patients and build great relationships.”
Frees said the Barton Nursing Program prepared her for the workforce by combining classroom learning with hands-on opportunities.
“The Barton nursing program has many lab hours built in, which allows hands-on experience using simulation mannequins so students can get comfortable before working on real patients,” she said.
“Once students have mastered the skills, they go into a structured clinical rotation in many different facilities, allowing for exposure to various conditions and specialties.”
Frees said she felt very supported during her time in the program.
“The small class structure allows for more one-on-one time with instructors and improved learning as well,” she said.
“My favorite part of Barton was being ‘home,’ seeing familiar faces, meeting people from far away, and still being able to get the college experience.”
Frees said the Barton program introduced her to people with many interesting stories and backgrounds.
“I enjoyed that the nursing program was geared to all different walks of life and people of different ages,” she said. “Some of my class members were straight out of high school, while others were in their 50s. Some of them were single moms working full-time jobs, while others were married or still living at home with their parents, but with Barton being a small college, you know most people and build relationships within a small group.”
Making a sound fiscal decision was essential for Frees when deciding to attend Barton.
“Barton was a financially good decision due to the low cost for in-county residents,” she said. "Tuition is much lower compared to universities, and there are many scholarships that can also be obtained. I was fortunate that I was also able to work during my time in the Barton nursing program, allowing more financial freedom.”
Frees credits her time at Barton in preparing her for success in her dream job.
“I 100% recommend Barton to those interested in furthering their nursing career as an LPN or RN,” she said. “The program is held in high regard, and I believe that it gives a better opportunity to those who want to be in the workforce sooner rather than later. It provides a great education and hands-on opportunities.”
Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now open. The priority deadline for applying for the nursing program is January 31, 2026. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2026. For more information or to apply, visit nursing.bartonccc.edu.