Education, tuition support help Nebraska nurse couple grow their health care careers
Children’s Nebraska
Omaha, Neb.
Jaci and Austin Derby. Photo courtesy of Children's Nebraska.
Austin and Jaci Derby have a similar journey — one that led not only to careers in health care, but also a personal partnership. Austin began working at the hospital as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) directly after high school, initially expecting to stay in that role permanently. Instead, his experience led him to pursue advanced education, take on leadership positions and ultimately meet his future wife, Jaci.
After earning additional degrees and taking advantage of internal development opportunities, Austin is now a nursing manager at the hospital’s Behavioral Health & Wellness Center. As a first-generation college student, he faced financial and logistical obstacles but credits Children’s Nebraska with helping remove those barriers through tuition assistance, flexible scheduling and loan repayment support. Those resources allowed him to continue his education without incurring overwhelming debt.
Jaci entered Children’s Nebraska through the Student to Nurse (S2RN) Pediatric Sponsorship Program, which provides funding, hands-on experience and job placement for aspiring pediatric nurses. The program offered stability and reduced financial stress while preparing her for a long-term role in nursing, eventually leading to her current position as a clinical education skills lab educator.