ABSTRACT
One winter day, a young mother named Jane was sitting at her kitchen table drinking coffee and looking out the window at the snow covered fields of her North Platte, Nebraska, ranch. Jane was dreaming about her life and how she would like to continue her education. She had always wanted to pursue a career in one of the allied health professions, particularly in the medical laboratory field. Jane’s sister, a medical technologist at a major hospital in Omaha, had often talked about the medical technology profession and the satisfaction of being an allied health professional. Jane loves working with patients and has volunteered at a small, rural hospital for several years. She feels an overwhelming need to do more for patients, but that would require additional training. As a mother of two and a supporting wife for her rancher husband, the possibility of getting that training seems remote. Jane could spend some time each day in training while the children are at school and her husband is working. Although her family would support this, Jane lives miles away from any academic institution that could provide the training she needs for a career in allied health. In addition, her family responsibilities preclude her from leaving home for any extended period of time.
