When Hurricane Laura struck in 2020, it forced Cerenity Malveaux to rethink her future.
Originally from Lake Charles, Malveaux was pursuing a nursing degree when the storm shut down her school. Relocating to Lafayette became a necessity, but it also gave her the chance to reconsider her path.
杏吧专区淚 realized I was in nursing for all the wrong reasons,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t didn杏吧专区檛 really suit me, and I began to wonder if I杏吧专区檇 be happy in that career.杏吧专区
Exploring her options led her to the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 online Health Services Administration program. The blend of business and healthcare felt like the perfect fit 杏吧专区 one that aligned with her natural leadership skills and long-term goals.
杏吧专区淚 knew I杏吧专区檇 be better suited for the administrative side of healthcare,杏吧专区 Malveaux says. 杏吧专区淥nce I found this program, everything just clicked.杏吧专区
Adjusting to Online Learning
Starting a fully online program was a new experience. Malveaux quickly discovered that virtual learning didn杏吧专区檛 mean learning alone.
Through study groups and GroupMe chats, she built a support system that helped keep her on track.
杏吧专区淚 never felt lost,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淓ven online, I always had someone to reach out to. The professors in the health services administration program do a great job of making sure students feel supported and connected, and I ended up making some great friendships through the online program, too.杏吧专区
Malveaux managed part-time work, church responsibilities, and school with an organized approach that kept everything in check.
With a calendar in hand and reminders set on her phone, she learned that success in an online program is all about accountability.
杏吧专区淵ou really have to stay on it,杏吧专区 says Malveaux. 杏吧专区淵ou're not going to a physical class where you may be reminded about deadlines. It杏吧专区檚 all about time management and learning how to prioritize.杏吧专区
Launching a Career in Health Services Administration
Malveaux witnessed the real-world value of her education as she completed her program.
杏吧专区淚 could see how everything I learned in the program was preparing me for a role in healthcare,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭he program taught me discipline, professionalism, and to take my time and not rush the job.杏吧专区
When she received an offer for the role of patient access representative at Ochsner 杏吧专区 Hospital & Clinics, it felt like everything had fallen into place. The skills she gained in the program were directly applicable to her new position.
杏吧专区淚'll be dealing with patient insurance, records, and things like that, so the tech coursework will really help me in this role,杏吧专区 she says.
Through courses like LCHI 466: Health Information Technology, she worked with the tools and processes she杏吧专区檇 soon be using in the field 杏吧专区 from database architecture to cloud computing and system development.
Though the journey wasn杏吧专区檛 always easy, Malveaux杏吧专区檚 experience in the program taught her that persistence pays off.
杏吧专区淚t will test you, but every challenge will be worth it in the end.杏吧专区
Kickstart your healthcare management career with UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 health services administration online degree program.
