RN Michelle Lane杏吧专区檚 great-grandmother had always emphasized continuing education. As a teacher with an advanced degree, she saw the value in going beyond an entry-level credential.
So did Lane.
But wanting to go back to school and having the time to do so didn杏吧专区檛 align for almost a decade.
杏吧专区淚 always said 杏吧专区 even 11 years ago 杏吧专区 that I was going to do it. Then life happened and I didn杏吧专区檛,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was time.杏吧专区
Lane had both the time and the means. As an LHC Group employee, Lane had access to reduced tuition to earn her bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree through the LHC Group 路 Myers School of Nursing online RN to BSN degree program.
Approaching Online Learning as a Caregiver
Lane was already working full time as a registered nurse when her great-grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Lane became a central part of her great-grandmother's care team.
The physical, mental and emotional demand of both roles meant Lane was at capacity. Any other goals were put on hold. After her great-grandmother passed away in 2021, Lane thoughts returned to education.
杏吧专区淚 couldn杏吧专区檛 balance work, caregiving, and adding school to that,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲hen she died, I said, 杏吧专区榠t杏吧专区檚 time. This is what she wanted.杏吧专区 So here we are.杏吧专区
Lane hadn杏吧专区檛 stopped learning in her decade as an RN, but returning to school as an online nursing student was a big change.
"As a nurse, you're always learning. Maybe not in a classroom setting, but there's always some type of education, but when I got my RN, it was in person,杏吧专区 says Lane. 杏吧专区淪o, it was a challenge not only just being a student again and having to do schoolwork, but also doing it online.杏吧专区
Not that it杏吧专区檚 a bad thing.
杏吧专区淚 had never taken an online class, but it's been nice,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 didn杏吧专区檛 know what to expect, but I feel like UL Lafayette has made the process as easy as possible. I feel like anybody can do it if they want to do it."
A big part of that experience is the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 RN to BSN faculty, who are solely dedicated to online RN to BSN students. Instructors are also trained and certified to teach online.
杏吧专区淚 really enjoyed all the RN to BSN faculty,杏吧专区 says Lane. 杏吧专区淓ven though they have way surpassed us in our education and even time as a nurse, they're very down to earth. It feels like they really care and want us to succeed, and so they have provided all the tools that we need.杏吧专区
Earning a BSN is the First Step
Lane was navigating this new approach to learning while also moving from Louisiana to Texas and changing jobs 杏吧专区 twice.
When Lane enrolled in the RN to BSN program, she was working a steady 8-to-5 schedule and dedicating an hour or two each evening to coursework. Now that she杏吧专区檚 working longer hours three days a week, she杏吧专区檚 had to re-strategize.
杏吧专区淚f I can, I try to work on it before I go to work that week and knock out my assignments for the week before it gets crazy and I'm tired and have trouble concentrating,杏吧专区 she says.
The payoff to that dedication is not just a BSN degree, but also a whole new way of approaching her practice.
"The evidence-based practice content makes you think differently as a nurse every day,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淓verything always is changing in health care.杏吧专区
And understanding evidence-based practice helps ensure registered nurses are able to review, analyze, and apply up-to-date scientific evidence.
Lane plans to take that understanding to the bedside and into her next degree program. She杏吧专区檚 already researching MSN degree programs to enroll as soon as possible.
杏吧专区淚f I take a break,杏吧专区 she says, 杏吧专区渋t杏吧专区檒l be another 10 years.杏吧专区