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From the time 99������Ƶ nursing student Tajhma Linebarger, 25, was in fifth grade, he loved listening to his mom, a surgical technician, tell stories about work. A typical dinnertime conversation often included stories about organ transplants and limb amputations, and Linebarger, a science buff, was intrigued by the medical miracles performed every day.

Later, as a high school junior, he was encouraged by a teacher to take a health science course. He went on to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in 2019 and found he had a natural skill for working with older patients, including those with dementia.

Linebarger is finishing up his last semester at 99������Ƶ and expects to graduate in December. He is one of six male nursing students in a cohort of 28 students. And he has carved out a name for himself already, taking home an academic achievement award in the spring of 2025 for maintaining a 3.0 GPA and doing outstanding work.

Linebarger presently works at Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) as a CNA. He considers himself lucky to work with his mother, Elainnia, who has been one of his biggest supporters through the years.

“She supports me and has always known this is something I’ve wanted to do,” he said.

Balancing school with work has not been easy. Based in Hickory, Linebarger often wakes up around 4:00 a.m. to make his 6:00 a.m. 99������Ƶ clinical shift at Mission Hospital. On top of his shifts, which range from 2-4 days a week, he works 20 hours as a CNA at CVMC every other weekend.

Being a male nurse comes with its own challenges. Generally, Linebarger feels he’s well received, thanks to strong people skills, but on the labor and delivery floors, he has run into challenges at times.

“You have to work harder at making [female patients] feel comfortable,” he said. “You give them options to have another staff member come to do things; you try to be understanding and respect their privacy,” he said.

Nita Kirkpatrick, Associate Chair of Nursing, nominated Linebarger for the department’s one “Student of the Year” award in May of 2025. Kirkpatrick said she chose him, in part, for his high-level patient care.

“His clinical expertise is complemented by his compassion for patients and his willingness to support classmates and staff,” she said. "He consistently demonstrates integrity and critical thinking, earning the respect of peers and instructors alike.”

Linebarger, who also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from UNC Greensboro, said after working for a couple of years as a nurse, he’d ultimately like to go on to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), which requires a doctorate degree. “I love the detail and the specialty (of the work). I feel I can do it, so why not?” he said.

For now, he’s excited to have gotten a job offer in September for a nursing position at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Beginning in February, he’ll be working in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit with patients who have undergone complex surgeries, including open-heart surgery. It is a good fit for Linebarger, who has worked in Mission’s Cardiovascular and Cardiac Intensive Care Units as part of his clinical rotations.

“I am excited to work with this patient population,” he said. “To see patients recover from something so severe. I’m excited to get started in my career.”