When Mike Niotis suddenly fell ill, the outstanding care of his nurses and patient care team inspired him to do the same for others, throwing his life and career in an entirely new direction.
Niotis, 50, is graduating this spring from the 杏吧专区 with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Michael Niotis changed careers in his 40s and has now earned his BS in Nursing through UL Lafayette Online.
Before nursing, Niotis supported his family by working in food service and restaurant management. He began moving his career in a new direction after a sudden illness landed him in the hospital.
Niotis took note of how his care team worked together and how they treated him.
杏吧专区淚t gave me a sense of teamwork and professionalism. I felt, both while I was there and after, that I wanted to be a part of that,杏吧专区 Niotis says. 杏吧专区淚 wanted to do something that had meaning; to be a part of something bigger and better.杏吧专区
Once he regained his health, Niotis was reluctant to make sweeping career changes that would affect his family before he was certain, so he volunteered in a psychiatric hospital to get a feel for working in the environment.
After five years, Niotis went to work full-time as a patient care technician at the same hospital where he had volunteered. It was a significant shift from working in restaurants, but Niotis was ready to do the work.
杏吧专区淥nce you杏吧专区檙e in service, you杏吧专区檙e always in service,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淚t was the type of service that changed.杏吧专区
The road to UL Lafayette Online
After working a few years as a patient care technician, Niotis signed onto a program through his employer to advance as a care provider.
The agreement stipulated Niotis would work full-time while taking courses to become an RN. And once Niotis became a licensed RN, he would have two years to earn his BSN.
When his board exams were done and he had license in hand, Niotis knew the clock was ticking. He needed an online RN to BSN program that would allow him to keep working full-time and be present as a father.
杏吧专区淚 had a crunch for time. I had to look at the financial side of things and decide what was the best for me,杏吧专区 he says.
It was two colleagues, themselves Ragin杏吧专区 Cajun grads, who shared their experiences in UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online RN to BSN program that piqued Niotis杏吧专区 interest.
杏吧专区淭hey had nothing but good things to say,杏吧专区 he says.
UL Lafayette Online checked all the boxes for Niotis 杏吧专区 flexible, accelerated courses, tuition he could afford even out-of-state, and a great professional reputation. He says the choice was easy.
Thriving with supportive faculty
Then it was time to become a fully online student and some serious anxiety set in.
杏吧专区淚 was completely nervous,杏吧专区 he says. 杏吧专区淵ou know, obviously, I杏吧专区檓 50 years old, so all the college experiences I杏吧专区檇 ever had were all in-class.杏吧专区
Niotis reached out to his instructors immediately, and he was struck by how available, helpful, and patient they were.
杏吧专区淚 met my very first professor online 杏吧专区 Tara Horsley, and she was exceptional 杏吧专区 she basically took my hand and walked me through everything.杏吧专区
Looking back, Niotis feels that finding his footing in the first few courses, with Horsley杏吧专区檚 help, was the foundation he needed to be a successful student moving forward and that杏吧专区檚 the advice he would give to incoming students.
杏吧专区淟earn carefully what to do in the beginning. You learn the foundations in the first two or three classes, and everything else pretty much follows suit after that,杏吧专区 he says.
Confidence, teamwork, communication
Niotis holds himself to a high standard with how he treats his patients and his colleagues, and he feels the RN to BSN program has helped him grow in both respects.
As he advanced from patient care technician to RN, Niotis was hyper aware of how an RN杏吧专区檚 leadership affects the team and the patient.
杏吧专区淸As an RN] not only was I now responsible 杏吧专区 fully 杏吧专区 for the care and safety of the patient, but I was having to delegate to the technicians what to do, when to do it, how to do it. It was a little nerve wracking.杏吧专区
So, he put pressure on himself to be the kind of RN he had most appreciated working for as a patient care tech 杏吧专区 someone knowledgeable, thoughtful, and generous.
And now, as his expertise continues to grow, he is excited to be a more capable and confident advocate for his patients杏吧专区 care working with doctors and management.
杏吧专区淲hat I杏吧专区檝e noticed in myself already is my ability to speak with higher management,杏吧专区 he says.
With a greater knowledge of policies and organizational structure, Niotis feels more ready to communicate a patient杏吧专区檚 needs strategically, to anticipate questions from doctors and administrators, and to get out ahead of misunderstandings or delays.
Looking ahead
In much the same way that the care he received as a patient inspired him years ago, the guidance and support Niotis received as a student has him considering a future in leading the class.
杏吧专区淚 went from 杏吧专区業 just want to be an RN,杏吧专区 to now, I want to be a little more [specialized], maybe in a teaching role, or use my experience to mentor future students.杏吧专区
