In Shreveport, Louisiana, April Scott balances a demanding career with a web of responsibilities.
By day, she cares for patients as a charge nurse in the medical-surgical ICU at Willis Knighton Pierremont.
By night, she juggles her commitments to family, church, and earning her BSN online 杏吧专区 each demanding a piece of her already packed schedule.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 a lot of life to juggle as I try to reach different goals,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淏ut I know that having the BSN degree will help me to get other certifications in the field.杏吧专区
As Scott nears completion of the online RN to BSN program through the 杏吧专区, her drive to excel in both her career and personal life continues to define her journey.
A Journey Reignited
Scott杏吧专区檚 journey in higher education began with a promising head start.
Thanks to dual enrollment courses, she graduated high school in 2013 with several college credits already under her belt.
Excited to pursue a career in nursing, Scott enrolled at an area community college. However, her path took an unexpected turn.
杏吧专区淯nfortunately, I didn杏吧专区檛 pass in my last year of nursing school, so instead, I graduated in 2017 with a degree in science,杏吧专区 she says.
But this setback didn杏吧专区檛 deter her; she turned it into motivation. In 2020, Scott returned to her passion and earned an associate degree in nursing.
Once established in her new nursing career, Scott found that she was hungry for more development and began the search for a flexible program that could fit her demanding lifestyle.
杏吧专区淚 had been shopping around for an online degree program, but quite a few of them had way more course requirements than what UL Lafayette required,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hey were similar, but UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 program was a more convenient fit.杏吧专区
In 2022, Scott took the jump and enrolled in UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online RN to BSN program.
杏吧专区淚 really enjoy the online delivery, especially now that I杏吧专区檓 a full-time RN. It just works best for me,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲ith me not living in Lafayette, it can be difficult not being able to just go to the office and talk to somebody, but the advisors have been really good about keeping me up to speed on everything and checking on me.杏吧专区
Mastering the Balancing Act
Professionally, Scott杏吧专区檚 responsibilities span far beyond her role as a charge nurse.
杏吧专区淥n top of taking on the position of charge nurse at work, I participate in various committees, and there are other certificates that I杏吧专区檓 pursuing at work that require me to do things on my off days,杏吧专区 she says.
She also dedicates much of her time to her family and church.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e really had to help take care of my siblings, doing a lot for them and for my parents,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎nd I杏吧专区檓 one of the leaders at my church so I do quite a bit with the youth. With my mom being the pastor杏吧专区檚 wife, a lot of times I would have to go to her and just be like 杏吧专区楬ey, I杏吧专区檓 going to need to take a break on this because I have schoolwork.杏吧专区櫺影勺ㄇ鴿
To succeed as an online student, Scott had to become a master of time management.
Her secret? A meticulously organized calendar.
杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檇 always start off the semester by filling out my entire calendar with due dates and everything so that I杏吧专区檓 not surprised by anything,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 make it a habit of checking everything frequently so that I always know what杏吧专区檚 coming up in the next week, whether it杏吧专区檚 schoolwork or any extracurricular things, it杏吧专区檚 just a matter of trying to stay ahead of the game.杏吧专区
Beyond keeping herself organized, Scott has also learned to embrace leadership.
In her role at Willis Knighton Pierremont, she gets to tap into the management skills she developed in the program.
杏吧专区淎s a charge nurse, I杏吧专区檓 in a position to use those management skills we杏吧专区檝e been taught and I杏吧专区檝e even seen my own managers incorporate some of those skills,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was very interesting to see that side of nursing. It kind of makes you want to pursue higher positions at your workplace just to get on the management side of things.杏吧专区
Reaching New Heights
With her BSN degree within arm杏吧专区檚 reach, Scott is eager to climb higher, drive greater change, and impact more lives.
杏吧专区淚 would like to continue in the position I杏吧专区檓 in as charge nurse,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淏ut I杏吧专区檓 hoping to open more opportunities at my job with my degree.杏吧专区
Looking forward, Scott views her BSN as just one milestone in her educational journey.
杏吧专区淚 intend to pursue my master杏吧专区檚 degree in nursing and possibly even my doctorate, but we杏吧专区檒l see how the master杏吧专区檚 goes,杏吧专区 she says.
And while she decides on her future plans, Scott encourages her peers in the program to stay resilient.
杏吧专区淭here杏吧专区檚 always going to be ups and downs, and you杏吧专区檙e going to have those days where you just feel like this isn杏吧专区檛 worth it or you don杏吧专区檛 want to do it anymore,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淪tick with it. It will be worth it in the end, and you will be proud that you did it.杏吧专区
Ready to advance your nursing career? Learn more about our RN to BSN online program at the 杏吧专区.