Brandi Borden thought about becoming an RN for years before she finally pursued a career in nursing. Her interest was first sparked while she worked as a lighting, camera and production assistant for film and television. She knew several nurses and would chat with medics on set. Their stories and passion for patient care planted a seed.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was always intriguing to me to be one of those people who cared for people,小蝌蚪APP Borden said. 
In 2019, Borden achieved her goal of becoming an RN, and in August of that year she began work as a trauma ICU staff nurse at 小蝌蚪APP Medical Center in New Orleans.
Next, Borden faced the challenge of earning her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree in nursing through the 小蝌蚪APP online RN to BSN program. She completed that degree in 2021.
Though her career change was a long time coming, her first nursing job has her excited for her future in health care.
小蝌蚪APP淭here are a lot of new nurses right now, which is good because we小蝌蚪APP檙e all learning,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 have a lot to be thankful for so I小蝌蚪APP檓 usually smiling. I absolutely love it. I小蝌蚪APP檓 super happy.小蝌蚪APP
Right Place, Right Time
Borden didn小蝌蚪APP檛 exactly seek out a career behind the camera. It came to her by chance.
She was waiting tables to earn a living at the time, shortly after leaving her job at a Saturn car dealership in Ventura, California. One night while she was over at a friend小蝌蚪APP檚 house, the phone rang. It was a mutual acquaintance, a former Saturn coworker who also worked on film crews. He called her friend looking for a last-minute camera department sub, and to Borden小蝌蚪APP檚 surprise, she was volunteered for the role.
Her fill-in gig as a crew member on a Power Rangers shoot led to more opportunities, and she went on to work in the industry for a decade. Borden eventually earned her union card during her time on set in Los Angeles and various locations and worked behind the scenes on a variety of projects. They include the hit movies Stuart Little 2 and Love Don小蝌蚪APP檛 Cost a Thing, and the award-winning indie film Me and You and Everyone We Know.
Borden is often surprised to meet other nurses who used to work in the film industry, including two from her ADN program. However, she also finds many similarities in the way creative and nursing crews work together.
小蝌蚪APP淚 absolutely love camaraderie 小蝌蚪APP I love working as a team. You get the pulling together and everybody working together for something bigger than just their department or themselves,小蝌蚪APP she said.
RN at Last
Borden flirted with the idea of starting nursing school shortly after leaving the entertainment industry, but her new husband小蝌蚪APP檚 military career took her to Germany, and they quickly started a family.
小蝌蚪APP淚 wound up not doing it because life gets in the way,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淵ou put things on hold and you don小蝌蚪APP檛 think about them because you小蝌蚪APP檙e paying your bills and doing other things.小蝌蚪APP
When the marriage ended in divorce, Borden decided to return to the States with her young son, Tristan. Once they settled in with her parents in Covington, Louisiana, she enrolled in the Charity School of Nursing at Delgado Community College.
Borden graduated with her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) in May 2019. She also served as president of the college小蝌蚪APP檚 student nursing association. She also served as the editor of Horizons, a publication of the Louisiana Association of Student Nurses where she was also a board member.
Borden believes that becoming a nurse at 45 has influenced her attitude toward patients and her ability to understand their needs. She feels that her long journey to nursing and the obstacles she has faced give her additional empathy and insight.
小蝌蚪APP淚 think that being older, you have this past life that is part of you,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚n the job, you understand things because you have life experience. I think I小蝌蚪APP檓 a lot more sensitive and I have a different perspective versus when I was younger.小蝌蚪APP
While she initially found going back to school a challenge, in the end she believes her experience also helped her succeed as a student.
小蝌蚪APP淎nything that you小蝌蚪APP檝e done in your past has molded you to the person you are now,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚 feel like I小蝌蚪APP檓 a lot more focused on what I want. For me it小蝌蚪APP檚 just been a blessing to be able to finish nursing school and work.小蝌蚪APP
New Life, New Dreams
Borden earned her ADN in an on-campus nursing program, but she felt an online BSN program would be the best fit for her new life. Studying online helped her balance work, school, and time with Tristan, who is now 9 years old.
She chose UL Lafayette for the convenience and reputation of its online RN to BSN program and the support available to online students.
小蝌蚪APP淭he application process was super easy. Everyone was really good about communication.小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淓verything小蝌蚪APP檚 been great.小蝌蚪APP
She also appreciated being able to begin her BSN studies right away.
小蝌蚪APP淚 like the five different start dates,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淭hat was a big deciding factor for me. Being able to start in October is a better schedule than a semester schedule.小蝌蚪APP
As Borden looks forward, she also takes time to reflect on how far she has come. She is enjoying the life her new career makes possible.
小蝌蚪APP淔or the first time since my divorce I小蝌蚪APP檓 able to provide for me and my child,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 thankful for the things that happened and I小蝌蚪APP檝e definitely learned from them. I小蝌蚪APP檓 thankful for everybody who helped me get here.小蝌蚪APP