Growing up, sisters Christine McGovern and Katherine Bequary were always close. Those familial bonds are now tighter than ever as both sisters embark on a new journey together.
With two successful careers under their belt – McGovern as an interior designer and Bequary working in humanitarian aid – they wanted to go into a profession that was honest, hardworking, steady, and that would carry them into their older years.
Now enrolled in the 2026 cohort of the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing Accelerated Second-Degree CEIN/BS Program, they are pursuing a career in nursing.
The Accelerated Second-Degree CEIN/BS is a one-year program for individuals who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Upon completion, students receive a BS in nursing and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination – the license exam to become a registered nurse (RN).
Bequary is familiar with UConn, having received her master’s in public health. Her previous Husky experience along with the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing’s outstanding reputation made her decision easy, and the first place she looked.
“UConn has such an incredible nursing program and I’m so excited about it. They are doing everything they can to make every single person successful and that was really encouraging for me,” said Bequary. “I am so thankful for the people in the program that have gotten us to this point because they were instrumental in our decision to do it.”
For McGovern, going through this program with her sister is a major benefit, especially without having a background in healthcare. She worked as a teacher and then pursued a career as an interior designer. After raising her five sons and finding herself as an empty nester, she felt the need to find a new purpose in life, one with more meaning and that would give back to the community.
Having been married to an emergency room doctor for 23 years, she always admired his and his colleagues’ work as well as her sister’s work in the medical field. Their passion and commitment to their career fueled her desire to want the same.
“Our entire family is super close, and they are supporting us through this,” said Bequary. “It’ll be important to have that support system because that’s a big part of being successful in everything we do in life. Whether it’s friends, family, or loved ones; I think Christine and I will be really good for each other in that sense.”
“I was always around people who were in the healthcare world, and it was always inspiring to me. I jumped on board when Katherine found the program because I had been searching for my next journey, and I was at a loss,” said McGovern. “What made it enticing for me was knowing that I could have her with me to lean on a little bit. It makes it much less scary, especially since I don’t have any training in the field. It truly is a great program that the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing can offer in an accelerated format.”
Bequary has always been involved in health and advocacy work, whether it be caring for children with special needs, global disaster relief, or humanitarian aid. She feels as though her decision to pursue a career in nursing was a natural progression, one that is now coming full circle.
Even though Bequary is still interested in working in global health, she is keeping her options open to all that nursing has to offer.
“There’s so much that is possible with a nursing degree, whether it’s working in a clinic, at a shelter, in a hospital, or working in a sovereign nation, there’s so much that can be done. I really want to keep myself open to all of it,” she said.
McGovern shared similar remarks, saying “I do get excited about the thought of working on a floor in a hospital or in an emergency department somewhere, but I want to learn as much as I can, so when I get out of nursing school, I can be good at everything.”
Both Bequary and McGovern stared the program this January. Their experience so far has already made a lasting impression.
“They make it feel so personal. I feel like everybody already knows me and that’s remarkable because it’s a big program,” said McGovern. “Coming back at the age that we’re coming back at, and for me especially coming from a non-healthcare related field, it helps make it feel less daunting.”
To explore the UConn Accelerated Second-Degree CEIN/BS Program and learn how you can become a registered nurse in just 12 months, visit:
Accelerated Second-Degree CEIN/BS Program | UConn School of Nursing
