From her early days working in the ICU to her current role managing a head and neck cancer clinic, Ashlynn Capace has built her career on the principles of care and compassion.
杏吧专区淣ursing just makes sense with my personality,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 in my nature to take care of people and comfort them.杏吧专区
But as Capace climbed the ranks, she faced a challenge: advancing further would require her to earn a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree.
杏吧专区淚 had no intention of going back to school,杏吧专区 she admits. 杏吧专区淏ut they told me the only way to move up in leadership was to get my degree, so that杏吧专区檚 what I did.杏吧专区
That杏吧专区檚 when she enrolled in UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online RN to BSN program.
Choosing Nursing
Capace always knew nursing was her path.
After high school, she enrolled at a university in Hammond, eager to pursue her dream.
But after three years, something still felt incomplete. Drawn back to her hometown, she decided to continue her education at Baton Rouge General School of Nursing.
杏吧专区淎n RN diploma is a non-degree training program,杏吧专区 she explains. 杏吧专区淪o, I graduated with my RN diploma in 2015.杏吧专区
From there, life moved quickly.
In January of 2016, Capace welcomed her first child, and by July, she started her career in the ICU.
As Capace grew in her role, she felt ready to take on more responsibility.
After almost two years in the ICU, she transferred to the head and neck clinic where she worked her way up to supervisor.
However, to move forward, earning her BSN was essential.
杏吧专区淚 was motivated to go back to school by the opportunity for growth in my organization,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 really like the mission of the hospital and the providers I work with.杏吧专区
But with a busy professional life and a growing family, she needed a program that would fit into her schedule as well as her professional goals.
She began researching and gathering feedback from her nursing colleagues who had recently earned their BSN.
杏吧专区淢any of them did UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online RN to BSN program,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 really liked that it was affordable and offered accelerated semesters, so that杏吧专区檚 what led me here.杏吧专区
Readjusting to Online Delivery
Returning to school while juggling work and family life was no easy task, but the online RN to BSN program offered Capace the flexibility she needed to make it work.
杏吧专区淚 have one biological daughter, and I杏吧专区檝e fostered 10 children. I work full-time. I coached softball and basketball,杏吧专区 she recalls.
杏吧专区淚 really had to get organized and make the most of my time because I knew I had to be structured in order to hit my goals in school.杏吧专区
Even while completing her courses, Capace was also working towards her Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse (CORLN) certification, which she earned in October 2023.
With so much on her plate, finding time to study meant getting creative with her approach to schoolwork.
杏吧专区淚 would give my daughter a notebook and she would write some of the notes while I was listening to a lecture,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淪he just scribbled on it, but it was a way to keep her involved and not feel guilty about doing something for me.杏吧专区
Because UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online RN to BSN courses are 100% online with no set class times, Capace could work around her family杏吧专区檚 schedule and even vacations.
杏吧专区淚 worked on some assignments during a trip to Disney, I worked on some stuff at the beach,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 just loved that I could still have an active life even though I was in school. I think that was the best part.杏吧专区
Capace also appreciated that the faculty recognized the unique challenges faced by working nurses.
杏吧专区淭he professors wanted to support us through it and understood that we were balancing a lot of things, but at the end of the day, we still had to handle business,杏吧专区 she says.
New Degree, New Opportunity
Through the RN to BSN program, Capace gained new skills she杏吧专区檚 applying to her current role, along with the credential she needs to access new opportunities.
杏吧专区淛oint Commission is the accrediting body for my clinic,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎nd I杏吧专区檓 better able to research answers to Joint Commission questions that come up because of the researching skills I developed in the program.杏吧专区
Juggling her duties as a nurse, a mother, and a student wasn杏吧专区檛 always easy, but through it all, her determination never wavered.
杏吧专区淚 got through it knowing I杏吧专区檓 a mom, knowing that someone is looking up to me,杏吧专区 Capace says. 杏吧专区淵ou're setting an example that you can do anything you put your mind to; I know it's so cliche, but it's the truth.杏吧专区
Ready to take the next step in your nursing career? Learn more about UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 online RN to BSN program.
