From Bradley to the Cleveland Clinic

When James Breckenridge ’24 was looking at colleges, he knew he wanted a school that would open doors, not close them. A friend advised him to find a direct-admit nursing program, and Bradley quickly rose to the top of his list. It offered guaranteed admission into nursing, the right balance of distance from his hometown of St. Louis, and the chance for a fresh start in a new city.

“I enjoyed science and wanted to help people, but those interests could lead to countless careers,” Breckenridge said. “I took a chance on nursing and got an early look at the field when clinicals started sophomore year. With my mom being a nurse, maybe it shouldn’t have surprised me—nursing seems to be genetic.”

That early decision paid off. Breckenridge credits Bradley with setting off what he calls a “chain reaction of successes” that built the foundation for his career. Leadership roles on campus helped him land his first certified nursing assistant (CNA) job in the ICU, where he gained valuable clinical hours. That experience led directly to his first full-time role at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in the cardiac ICU after graduation—and eventually to his current position at one of the world’s top cardiovascular hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic.

“I don’t think I would have been as successful at another school,” he said. “At Bradley, I was able to step into leadership roles that really prepared me. Those opportunities 100% opened the door for me.”

Breckenridge took full advantage of Bradley’s size and culture, which he describes as “large enough to offer opportunities but small enough that you can step into meaningful leadership.” He served as Director of Academic Affairs in Delta Tau Delta, representing his nursing class for three years, and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau and Order of Omega. Outside the classroom, he built critical care experience as a CNA in the CVICU.

“Each of those roles pushed me to grow as a communicator and gave me stories to share in job interviews,” he said. “I wasn’t someone who held leadership roles in high school, but Bradley gave me the confidence to realize I was capable.”

Now, with over a year of ICU experience under his belt, Breckenridge is applying to Doctor of Nursing Practice programs in nurse anesthesia—a goal sparked during his time at Bradley. One of his most important supporters in that process has been Dr. Amy Grugan, associate dean for student success and professor of nursing.

“Dr. Grugan has been incredibly supportive, guiding me through each step and making things feel manageable,” Breckenridge said. “She wrote me a strong recommendation letter that highlighted my time at Bradley as well as what I’ve accomplished since graduation. Even though I was a little late with applications, she helped me quickly so I could meet my deadlines.”

“James was an excellent student,” Grugan said. “He was always engaged, worked very hard inside and outside the classroom, and had a clear ambition to succeed as an ICU nurse at Cleveland Clinic.”

For Breckenridge, the support he found at Bradley didn’t end with graduation. “My professors worked with me to grow into a competitive applicant, and they’ve continued to be there for me even after I left campus. That kind of connection is something I’ll always value.”

His advice to current and future Braves? “Get involved with something on campus. As cliché as it sounds, that’s where I found leadership opportunities that made all the difference. College is the time to figure out who you are—take every risk and opportunity you can, because there’s no better time to do it.”

—Emily Potts