Only one person can say they are the first basketball player at Valparaiso University in the past 15 years to become a registered nurse: fifth year forward transfer Jayda Johnston. 

Eastern’s head coach Marqus McGlothan picked up Johnston through the transfer portal in her final year of eligibility. 

“During the recruiting process, I wanted to be an alumni somewhere,” Johnston said. “I wanted to get another Division I experience, and I wanted a senior night.”

Johnston picked up her first basketball at the age of 5, making this her 18th year playing the sport. 

She has been playing the game of basketball longer than some people at this university have been alive. 

At a young age, Johnston said she knew she wanted to play basketball at the collegiate level, but she also knew she wanted to do more outside of basketball.

Johnston wanted to help people. However, in the beginning, she wasn’t quite sure how.

When she was in high school, Johnston started a nonprofit organization, Connecting Teens with Seniors, and through this, she knew she wanted to work with senior citizens and help them in any way she could. 

Ultimately, when Johnston graduated high school, she decided to commit to Valpo and declare as a nursing major through the university. 

Someone who had a big impact on her decision was her mother, Amanda Adams, she said. 

“My mom was a big inspiration for me,” Johnston said. “As a single mother of three, she went back to school to become a nurse.” 

Adams is a nurse, and Johnston believes she got her mom’s instincts on being able to help people well. 

During her four years at Valpo, Johnston said her experience taught her a lot about life and responsibility through the balance of being a student athlete and being a nursing major. 

“I would stay up until 2 in the morning,” Johnston said. “Then, I’d have to go to clinical in the morning, and some of our clinicals were in Chicago, so you’d have to drive 45 minutes to an hour, depending on rush hour. I’d go to clinical for six hours, then go to class for two hours, then go to practice.” 

In the 2023-2024 season, Johnston ended up stepping away from basketball due to mental health reasons for approximately seven months. 

After putting her name in the portal, head coach McGlothan was eager to get Johnston to commit to Eastern. After her visit at Eastern, Johnston committed that night. 

“It was the right fit for me,” Johnston said. “I had other offers, but not one withe a coach like McGlothan.” 

Using all her time to focus on her academics while at Valpo, Johnston proceeded to get her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree and continued to study for her National Council Licensure Examination. 

Normally, this test contained all multiple-choice questions, but the year Johnston took the test was the first year the format changed to multiple-choice, select all that apply, cases studies and drag and drop questions. 

The test can go from as little as 75 questions to anywhere up to 145 questions. The test is formatted to make sure the test taker is either 95% certainly a safe nurse or 95% not a safe nurse. 

“I would’ve bet all my money that I failed it,” Johnston said. “I was crying.” 

But on Aug. 8, 2024, Johnston passed the exam, officially making her a registered nurse. 

With Johnston being a registered nurse, she knows how to help the team out when it comes down to injuries and overall health. 

“I just like being there for my teammates,” Johnston said. “I’d say I’m motherly to them.” 

On Feb. 13, senior guard Kiyley Flowers went down with an apparent ankle injury against Tennessee State University. In that moment, McGlothan told Johnston to help Flowers out, and in that moment, Johnston knew she wanted to be there not just for her teammate but for her friend. 

“Once I knew it was her ankle, I wasn’t that worried,” Johnston said. “I picked her up because I’m not going to make her waddle when I can just pick you up.” 

Johnston carried her into the trainer’s room to get evaluated. 

“I think she brings great energy,” Flowers said. “It’s energy that stays very positive. I think with the TSU game, it just represented how she is there for everyone and has everyone’s back.” 

On and off the court, Johnston is viewed very positively by her teammates. 

“She’s the mom of the team,” redshirt sophomore forward Sydney-James Desroches said. “She cooks for us; she checks in on us. Literally her career field is exactly where she needs to be because she cares for us. She’s like the mama nurse here.” 

For senior guard Alex Rouse, Johnston is one of her roommates. Johnston says that she’ll cook Rouse dinner at times, and Rouse sees Johnston as a big sister. 

“Off the court she is like a mom or a big sister for me personally,” senior guard Alex Rouse said. “She cooks a lot and is a fantastic cook. She is the nurse for the team, [and] if anybody has questions, we all go to Jayda [Johnston]. She is a great listener too and provides good feedback, [and] she has a good sense of humor.” 

In the later portion of the regular season, Johnston has seen more playing time, recording a season-high of eight points in 23 minutes against Southeast Missouri. 

Johnston also recorded four rebounds and one assist against the Redhawks. 

“Jayda [Johnston]’s presence on the team is unmatched,” Rouse said. “Her importance to this team is indescribable. She makes sure as a team we never settle and never get comfortable.” 

Looking back on her journey, Johnston had an original plan, but she gave the credit of how her life panned out to God. 

“Nursing found me, which it works well with who I am,” Johnston said. “Sometimes you think you know, and you have a plan, but God had a bigger plan for me. I didn’t even see it at the time. I wouldn’t trade meeting my teammates for anything.”

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.