RN Michelle Lane小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檛 align for almost a decade.
小蝌蚪APP淚 always said 小蝌蚪APP even 11 years ago 小蝌蚪APP that I was going to do it. Then life happened and I didn小蝌蚪APP檛,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t was time.小蝌蚪APP
Lane had both the time and the means. As an LHC Group employee, Lane had access to reduced tuition to earn her bachelor小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP淚 couldn小蝌蚪APP檛 balance work, caregiving, and adding school to that,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淲hen she died, I said, 小蝌蚪APP榠t小蝌蚪APP檚 time. This is what she wanted.小蝌蚪APP So here we are.小蝌蚪APP
Lane hadn小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP says Lane. 小蝌蚪APP淪o, it was a challenge not only just being a student again and having to do schoolwork, but also doing it online.小蝌蚪APP
Not that it小蝌蚪APP檚 a bad thing.
小蝌蚪APP淚 had never taken an online class, but it's been nice,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 didn小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 RN to BSN faculty, who are solely dedicated to online RN to BSN students. Instructors are also trained and certified to teach online.
小蝌蚪APP淚 really enjoyed all the RN to BSN faculty,小蝌蚪APP says Lane. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
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 小蝌蚪APP 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小蝌蚪APP檚 working longer hours three days a week, she小蝌蚪APP檚 had to re-strategize.
小蝌蚪APP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,小蝌蚪APP 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,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淓verything always is changing in health care.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檚 already researching MSN degree programs to enroll as soon as possible.
小蝌蚪APP淚f I take a break,小蝌蚪APP she says, 小蝌蚪APP渋t小蝌蚪APP檒l be another 10 years.小蝌蚪APP