From Nursing Assistant to Director of Nursing Practice: Adrien Conklin’s Career Pathway Journey

When Adrien Conklin, BSN, RN, left the hospitality industry in 2006 to become a Nursing Assistant at Berkshire Medical Center, she could not have predicted how far her career—and the support of the Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) Career Pathways Program—would take her. Nearly 20 years later, Conklin not only has deep appreciation for that support but is continuing her professional growth as a nurse. 

Now the Director of Nursing Practice for BHS Provider Practices, Conklin said her transition from restaurant management to healthcare gave her a new sense of purpose. “A Nursing Assistant class offered by Berkshire Health Systems helped me realize that healthcare was where I could truly make a meaningful impact—something I didn’t experience in restaurant management,” she said. “I had no healthcare background at all, but I was surrounded by an exceptional group of nurses and nursing assistants who encouraged me to keep moving forward.” 

Through what would later become the Career Pathways Program, Conklin enrolled at Maria College, earning her Associate Degree in Nursing. After beginning her career in acute care, she transitioned to home health nursing with the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association (BVNA). With continued support from the BHS education program, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Elms College. 

For more information on the BHS Career Pathways Program, visit this link | New Window.  

When BVNA developed a unique Care Management nursing role embedded within BHS practices, Conklin stepped into the newly created position, sparking a growing interest in working directly within provider practices. She later moved into practice management roles at MACONY Pediatrics and East Mountain Medical before assuming her current leadership position. 

Conklin credits the program—formerly known as the Critical Shortage Program and now the Career Pathways Program—with making her career progression possible. “The program is excellent,” she said. “I worked four days a week and had one full day off for coursework. I feel incredibly fortunate, and I know how difficult this path would have been without that support.” 

The Career Pathways Program covers tuition and educational costs while providing pay and benefits for participants pursuing careers as Medical Assistants, Nursing Assistants, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Radiology Technologists, or Biomedical Technicians, with a full-time position available upon completion. 

BHS continues to encourage professional advancement, and Conklin is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Nursing. “The program creates opportunity,” she said. “But success comes from being willing to take the chance, working hard, and learning from those who support and mentor you along the way.”