Former pastor inspired to earn nursing degree

Topeka, Kan. — A former pastor with a background in medicine, James Aubey began thinking about pursuing a nursing degree during a faltering economy in 2008. After his first wife, a registered nurse, passed away a couple of years later, he followed his heart and enrolled in the Baker School of Nursing.

On Friday night, Aubey will join 31 classmates during a special pinning ceremony at Grace Episcopal Cathedral. Two days later, he will walk across the stage at the Collins Center as a Baker nursing graduate after earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“Nursing and pastoring have a lot in common,” said Aubey, who served four years as pastor at Auburn (Kan.) Presbyterian Church. “It’s about caring and loving people.”

Aubey has had a long career caring for others. In addition to being a pastor, he has been a paramedic, director of operations and part owner of a small noninvasive cardiac laboratory, and a product manager for a medical equipment company.

“I feel like I’m coming full circle, utilizing the skills that I have developed over the years,” he noted.

Aubey continued a Baker tradition of succeeding on the National Council Licensure Examination. He recently passed the NCLEX on his first attempt. In 2013, Baker nursing students had the highest first-time pass rate in the state at 96.15 percent, well above the state average of 79 percent and national average of 83 percent.

Three years ago, his first wife, Lori, died from a heart attack at age 55 on Thanksgiving Day. A registered nurse for more than 30 years, Lori was a cardiovascular ICU nurse before entering nursing management. The Aubeys were married for 18 years.

“She had supported my decision to pursue a career in nursing,” Aubey said.

Aubey has since remarried. He and Hilary Peguero were united in marriage in June 2013.

“Hilary has been extremely supportive during my time at Baker,” he said.

Aubey, who earned a 4.0 grade-point average at Baker and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, an international honor society for nursing, made the most of his two years studying nursing at Baker. He became a Baker Buddy, serving as a mentor to incoming students, and was a Baker Student Ambassador. He led special Thanksgiving and Easter services for the Nurses Christian Fellowship. Aubey also was selected for a Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency, a 10-week summer internship at Colmery-O’Neil Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“I really enjoy working with veterans,” Aubey said. “They are good guys and very appreciative of the care they receive. Part of being a nurse is being an advocate for your patient.”

Aubey is looking for a job in areas of cardiology, intensive care, psychiatric nursing, medical-surgical or general nursing.

“A nurse can get a job anywhere,” Aubey said.

At 53, Aubey is the oldest member of the fall of 2014 nursing class. Most of his classmates are close in age to his daughter, Sarah, a student at Emporia State.

“My classmates accepted me from the beginning,” Aubey said. “We celebrated together after finals.”