Crystal Smith does not have a resting state.
She works in emergency care 杏吧专区 as she has for most of her 20-year nursing career 杏吧专区 as a nursing instructor, and with a summer camp for kids ages 6-17. At home, she杏吧专区檚 mom to four kids.
After decades of waiting for the 杏吧专区渞ight time杏吧专区 to earn her MS in Nursing degree, Smith accepted what so many graduate students know too well.
杏吧专区淚 was waiting for this 'perfect time杏吧专区 to go back and realized there isn't a perfect time,杏吧专区 says Smith. 杏吧专区淲hen your kids are little, you think it杏吧专区檒l be when they're older. And then when they're older, you're like, gosh, I should have done this when they were little.杏吧专区
However, as Smith began her graduate coursework at the 杏吧专区 in January 2020, she didn杏吧专区檛 know how quickly her philosophy would be challenged.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic challenged every aspect of Smith杏吧专区檚 life, she endured. In Spring 2022, Smith earned her MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner, degree, and was named overall Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Graduate.
She credits that success to the 杏吧专区渕ost amazing杏吧专区 husband, as well as dedicated, supportive graduate faculty.
杏吧专区淚 was just so grateful and impressed for how they managed all of that uncertainty,杏吧专区 says Smith.
Choosing UL Lafayette
Deciding to pursue her MSN degree wasn杏吧专区檛 only about timing for Smith, but also opportunity. 
杏吧专区淚 wanted other opportunities and doors to open, and I wanted the ability to have more options regarding patient care as well as in volunteering, ministry, with mission trips, and things along those lines,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲ith your master杏吧专区檚, it opens the opportunity for so many things from providing care to underserved areas to teaching.杏吧专区
With her array of activities and priorities, Smith needed a program that could provide flexibility and support alongside rigorous academics.
UL Lafayette offered just the right blend.
杏吧专区淚 just had the most amazing experience,杏吧专区 says Smith. 杏吧专区淚t was really, really hard. The sacrifices I had to make to be able to do this while working and with kids were very hard. But the support I had from the graduate department, Dr. Lemoine, Dr. Lenahan 杏吧专区 they杏吧专区檙e just all amazing, amazing individuals, who really want the best for their students and for the nursing profession at all levels.杏吧专区
Setting expectations
Smith didn杏吧专区檛 make the decision to go back to school in a vacuum, she says. It was a family decision, with she and her husband setting expectations for where Smith would need to step back, and others would step in.
Once Smith enrolled, she says planning and organization were key.
杏吧专区淚 went into each semester with a plan, carving out time and saying this day is for this, and so on,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 knew I wasn't going to get to go on trips and vacations and a lot of social events. I dedicated my evenings and nights after kids were asleep to study and things like that.杏吧专区
Part of her ability to plan came from expectations set by the program of how many hours students would need to set aside for each course, she says.
杏吧专区淚 think they had a very good understanding and respect that we're working already, have families, careers, and that it's really, really hard,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hey did everything they could to make sure you're successful.杏吧专区
Smith says she was also able to connect with others in her cohort to build a lasting professional network.
"It's a little different when you're doing grad school online, because you're not physically hanging out with these people in class, but the way that they would do assignments with discussion boards and giving feedback on other people's work helped with that,杏吧专区 Smith says. "There are people that I will have connections with for the rest of my career because of school.杏吧专区
From RN to NP
Smith is now on her way to becoming licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner, but the transition from RN is more than a certification.
The knowledge Smith gained through the MSN program, she says, has changed her approach to patient care and underscored the importance of evidence-based practice.
"In every course, you are constantly brought back to, 杏吧专区榯his is why you do this,杏吧专区 and it's evidence-based with the research to back it up, and how you determine whether something is quality research. That was a huge difference and a huge growth opportunity,杏吧专区 says Smith. 杏吧专区淵ou're also learning way more about the pharmacology and pathophysiology of things. In general, the knowledge is vast and more detailed so that you can practice with an NP.杏吧专区
Being able to recognize and synthesize quality research provided the foundation for Smith to design a COVID-19 testing program for 4,000-5,000 kids and staff attending summer camp in 2020.
杏吧专区淧arents were trying to find a safe way for kids to attend summer camps because they understood the benefits. It's so good for kids, and so that was a big thing,杏吧专区 says Smith.
It was also among the components of Smith杏吧专区檚 nomination and ultimate selection as overall Outstanding Master杏吧专区檚 Graduate. Criteria for the recognition include leadership, scholarship, service and research.
Smith also served as student representative for the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners and has been a member of LANP杏吧专区檚 health policy committee, helping to advocate for state legislation to improve access to health care services.
杏吧专区淚 was very honored and very humbled,杏吧专区 says Smith. 杏吧专区淚t was a very proud moment. As a wife and a mom, it felt good to receive that so my husband and kids could celebrate that success through graduate school.杏吧专区
As Smith prepares for her next steps, she杏吧专区檚 doing so with ample evidence that she杏吧专区檚 capable of hard and incredible things.