Become a BSN

If you've considered furthering your nursing education through the pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you've likely wondered about the potential benefits of holding a BSN. While there are many routes that lead to a solid nursing education, the most direct and beneficial route involves becoming a bachelor's-prepared nurse. In fact, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Initiative on the Future of Nursing feels so strongly about the pursuit of a BSN that it hopes to increase the number of nurses with bachelor's degrees to 80 percent by 2020.

The College Network offers an online LPN to BS in Nursing program as well as several online RN to BS in Nursing programs. Below is a list of three major advantages of completing these programs and earning a bachelor's degree in nursing.

1. More Experience — Nurses who complete a bachelor's degree program have more experience in real-world hospital situations than those with a lesser degree. Most BSN programs require a significant number of clinical hours, which helps students feel more comfortable in the nurse role.
    
2. Broader Knowledge — Nursing bachelor's degree programs dive further into each nursing course and require completion of more courses than associate's degree and diploma programs. This gives students a broader knowledge base and enhances their problem solving and critical thinking skills.
    
3. Expanded Opportunities — With the changing nature of healthcare, hospitals are increasingly looking to staff their nursing units with nurses who have earned at least a BSN. Bachelor's-prepared nurses have a leg up on those who have only an associate's degree, and that helps them stand out when seeking initial employment as well as promotions. Additionally, some positions in the nursing industry (e.g., educator, researcher, and administrator) can only be filled by those with a bachelor's or higher degree.

If you're ready to advance your career with a BSN, contact The College Network today at 1-877-TCN-DEGREE (877-826-3347)!

If you are an LPN/LVN, you’ve probably considered going back to school to earn your degree and RN license. With the demand for qualified RNs on the rise, it’s a great time to start working toward a higher nursing credential.

Earning your associate’s degree in nursing isn’t the only way to get your RN license—in fact, there are lots of benefits to earning your bachelor’s degree instead.

The 80 by ‘20 Push

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Institute of Medicine’s 2011 recommendation—it states that 80% of all RNs should hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) by the year 2020. But why is the industry pushing for higher nurse education? The simple fact is, due to the demanding nature of the patient landscape, the role of the RN is changing. RNs are required to take on more responsibilities than before, working directly with physicians to diagnose patients and manage teams of LPNs.

To be successful in these new working conditions, it is beneficial to have a bachelor’s-level nursing education. In fact, many healthcare facilities are raising their minimum education requirements for RNs as a result of this industry-wide push.

Aside from mastering the necessary clinical skills, BSN students gain an in-depth understanding of leadership skills and managerial strategies, preparing them to lead and manage teams of nurses and move up within their organization over time. Most nurse managers are required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

As RNs retire at a rapid rate, the number of open positions for BSN-RNs is on the rise. Over 55 percent of today’s RNs and nurse leaders plan to retire by 2020, creating more leadership opportunities for BSN-prepared RNs.

Go From LPN to BSN with One Online Program

As an LPN, your bachelor’s degree in nursing is well within your reach.  Although there are many degree programs that can bridge the gap between LPN and BSN, there is only one LPN to BS in Nursing program that can be completed entirely through distance learning. The LPN to BS in Nursing program from Indiana State University allows to complete your course work online, meaning you can continue to work in your current job while completing your degree. Upon graduation, you’ll receive your bachelor’s degree in nursing and will be ready to make an impact as a BSN-prepared RN.

To learn more about the LPN to BS in Nursing program from Indiana State University, watch the video below.

If you’d like more information on the LPN to BS in Nursing program, feel free to call us at 800-395-1014 to speak with a Program Advisor. You can also request more information by clicking here. 

 

Last month, ABC premiered ‘NY Med,’ an eight-part documentary series that explores the daily action on the ER floor at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The series, directed by producer Terence Wrong, followed nurses and doctors over the course of 16 months, capturing their most touching and most tragic interactions with patients. The series has brought nursing to the forefront of the national television spotlight, and the nurses on the show couldn’t be happier. 

"The show could be one of the greatest public health campaigns, or it could be a great campaign for how rewarding and amazing a career as a professional nurse is," said the series’ Katie Duke, RN, BSN, CEN, CCRN in an interview with Nurse.com.  "It can touch so many people on different levels."

In Wrong’s typical style, the footage is raw and graphic, revealing everything from tumor removals to a “wide awake” neurosurgery. But the producer does his part to balance the series’ most dramatic moments with a good helping of lighthearted patient interaction. At times, the show is hard to stomach, but it’s that roughness that serves as just recognition for the men and women of the emergency room.

The show has received rave reviews from major media outlets (like this one from the LA Times), and many healthcare professionals have expressed their appreciation for the show's accurate depiction of the hospital workday. Nurses on the show hope that the series will do its part to make people appreciate the unique challenges of their work and inspire others to take interest in the nursing profession. You can watch several full episodes of the series here. 

The College Network has exciting news for Texas LVNs! We are now making it possible to complete an LVN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program entirely through distance learning. This program, available through Indiana State University, will enable you to sit for your NCLEX-RN exam in Texas.

As you know, registered nurses can make significantly higher salaries and have increased job opportunities. It is more important than ever before to advance your education by becoming an RN and earning a BS in Nursing considering a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine that calls for 80 percent of RNs to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing by 2020.

Indiana State University partners with The College Network to provide you with a way to continue your education while you continue working full-time as an LVN. We will work with you to ensure you have the education and training you need to advance your career right away without the need for long waiting list.

Please contact The College Network at 1-800-395-1014 to learn more about this program!

Very best regards,

Joel Kimzey

When listening to the radio, the song "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson comes on the radio several times during the day--there is no escaping it on the station I listen to.  And afterwards I find that I can't get it out of my head.  Plus there are so many parodies on YouTube and other channels.  It has become part of our trending culture.

After a friend posted that people don't call each other anymore, I realized that I have to agree.  With the popularity of social media, it's easier to post your status on Facebook or tweet about something you find interesting.  We even reach out to our community for recommendations or advice.  The art of communication is sometimes lost in the fray.  

But it is after a lengthy conversation I had with a customer this morning, that I want to encourage you to call us.  The College Network's Academic Support team is available to you when you need some support, to schedule a test or just to review your program.  You can also talk to them about developing a study plan if you are new to your online program, or need to get restarted.  

As an LPN to RN, we understand that you are working hard to support yourself and at times run into questions that you need some clarification on, or perhaps you just need to talk through you program plan to keep on your schedule.  Maybe you're starting in your BSN program and need to understand Regis University's small class sections.  Whatever you may need, our team is here for you.

Here's our number, 800-634-1443--so call us maybe.  

 

If you’ve been thinking about going back to school to earn your Bachelor’s Degree in nursing, now’s the time to do it. The demand for nurses is at an all-time high, with the American College of Medical Quality predicting a national shortage of 300,000 to 1 million nurses by the year 2020. The increase in demand is largely credited to the rising healthcare needs of the aging baby boomer generation.  

But conditions aren’t just calling for more RNs --many experts expect the BSN degree to become the new entry-level requirement for nurses. Currently, only about 50 percent of nurses in the U.S. hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In order to meet national demand, the Institute of Medicine reports that 80 percent of nurses will need to hold bachelor’s degrees by the year 2020 -- hence, the “80 by ‘20” rule.

In response, The College Network® will continue to provide our customers with the means to earn their Bachelor’s of Science in nursing from the comfort of home. Through our partnership with Indiana State University, The College Network offers the only distance-based LPN to BSN program in the country. If you are an LPN or LVN, you probably have a busy lifestyle as it is. By enrolling in our BSN program, you can obtain your bachelor’s degree at your own pace and ensure career stability in the competitive years to come.

If you are ready to take the next step towards becoming a contender in tomorrow’s healthcare market, contact The College Network and speak with a Program Advisor at 1-800-395-1014.

Hila Wieser, RN BSN

A recent account posted to Nurse.com about the realities of entering the nursing profession really caught me off guard. It was so brutally honest, and so real, that I thought I would share it with The College Network Nursing Blog’s readers.

Are you on the fence about becoming an RN? Do you have doubts? Hila Wieser, RN BSN, writes about how her fairytale conception of nursing was promptly shattered by her clinical experience, and how she gained new motivation to practice nursing through trying yet rewarding times in an urban hospital environment. Below is a selection I found especially candid and inspiring; read the rest here.

"These experiences, from my time at The University Hospital, affiliated with UMDNJ in Newark, and at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, often proved so difficult and anxiety-provoking that nine times out of 10 I did not sleep the night before my clinicals. And yet, they did not shatter my lofty nursing goals. They did the exact opposite by showing me up close what I never had the chance to witness so intimately before: our greatest vulnerabilities and our greatest strengths acting in tandem. And ultimately, this is what validated my desire to become a nurse. 

Juliette Binoche might have given me a soft-lit, L’Oreal-styled daydream of nursing, but 900 hours of clinical practice, divided between the sick and vulnerable (patients and families), and those serving the sick and vulnerable (nurses, physicians, therapists, social workers, etc.), exposed me to the greatest human equalizer: our need for one another." 

 

After working as a Licensed Vocational Nurse for a long time, Elizabeth Hill decided to begin working towards her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Indiana State University with help from The College Network™.

“I thought it would be a great way to earn my BSN that would be a lot more convenient as a working, divorced mom. I need to earn more income, and becoming an RN is the way to go for me since I love the nursing field and have been an LVN for 27 years now,”  Elizabeth explains.

Not only does Elizabeth like the convenience of earning her nursing degree online, she also says this is more affordable than some of the traditional colleges she looked into.

Find out how Elizabeth stays motivated to earn her degree by reading more of her story, or call 1-800-395-1014 to find out how you can begin your online educational journey.

The DAISY Foundation has announced the latest group of nurses to be honored by their DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Exceptional clinical skill and compassion are faculties that all DAISY nurses possess. Peers, physicians, nursing managers, patients, staff and administrators can all nominate nurses for the award. Recognition such as the DAISY Award is an excellent way to encourage young people to learn some of the fascinating stories that occur in the nursing field and consider becoming a Registered Nurse.

The full roster of nurses who won the DAISY Award in 2011 can be viewed on the Foundation's website. An announcement of the awards and a selection of honorees and their stories appears at nurse.com; one fantastic example appears below:



Althea J. Pierre, RN, BSN • ED • Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
My first contact with Althea Pierre was on my first week on the job at Maimonides. She was working in the resuscitation area of the ED. An uncooperative and verbally abusive patient in the next bed who was assigned to the other nurse had refused all efforts by the ED staff to get his blood drawn. I watched as Althea gently talked to the patient and, finally, after all others had failed before her, she calmed him down. Although it was busy that day, she competently took care of the patients under her care and still managed to treat that first patient and his family with respect. She was able to break through the barriers, then received their trust and cooperation. When she noticed me, she introduced herself, gave me a bright smile and a welcome hug. I left the room thinking, “What a beautiful nurse she is.” My first impression was further strengthened by subsequent observations of her competent and compassionate care to her patients. Her positive and professional attitude remained constant, and she seemed to have an incandescent light about her as she cheerfully went about her duties. She provided the human touch that bridged the gap between technology and the basic concept of nursing: caring. And now, I’m stunned by the news that she is sick and will be going for surgery. Through all the emotional and physical turmoil that she is going through, she still managed to email her thanks for the help that the ED staff had given her and also gave words of encouragement and hope to the staff. She tries to give comfort when she is the one who needs it the most. She is an angel among us.

 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that there was a 3.9% increase in enrollment for BS in Nursing programs this year. Since the year 2000, there has been an annual rise in nursing school enrollment. from 2009 to 2010, there was a 5.7% increase! 

“With the Institute of Medicine and other leading authorities calling for significant increases in the number of nurses with baccalaureate and graduate degrees, moving to prepare a more highly educated nursing workforce has become a national priority,” said AACN President Kathleen Potempa, quoted on ModernHealthCare.com.

What does this mean to you? If you are an LPN--go for RN status! Associate prepared or Diploma RN? Think about the online BS in Nursing or the RN to MSN program! BSN Nurse? Time for the MSN! The demand for nurses continues to increase, but so do educational expectations. Research The College Network and see how we can help you to become more competitive in the ever-expanding nursing field!

There is an extremely high projected nursing need to account for the baby boom generation's aging and the healthcare system's expansion, and young people are increasingly stepping up to fill the gap. According to a study mentioned in an article on LATimes.com, the number of RNs aged 23-26 was at 165,000 in 2009, as compared to only 102,000 in 2002. The number is only going up, and if it continues the need for nurses may possibly be filled. California is certainly a hotbed of activity for new RNs--2002 saw only 5,300 people graduate from nursing schools in the state, whereas the 2009 number was over 11,500.

I talk to people in California on the phone all the time, and they tell me that the wait time for entrance into local nursing schools is very long. If you live in California and you want to become an RN, your options are not limited to local schools with swelling student populations. The online LPN to BSN program, offered by Indiana State University in partnership with The College Network, is a smart route to becoming a BSN Nurse that allows you to work and/or raise your family and complete your education when it is convenient for you---without the wait time!

If you are interested in learning more, give me a call at 1.800.378.8515. extension 4768, or checkout collegenetwork.com!

Compassion for others certainly tops the list of reasons to become a nurse, but the love that nurses receive from their patients is not something that is always brought up. I wanted to re-post this story, which appeared on nurse.com, to The College Network Blog for all of our readers.  If you are thinking of becoming a nurse or looking to find nursing programs, this may push you in that direction. If you are already a nurse, this may remind you of why you do what you do everyday! Thanks go to Robyn L. Pascale for writing this beautiful piece.

Being a nurse, you frequently are asked the question, “What made you become a nurse?” My answer always is, “I love being with people, helping them and their families; that’s the kind of person that I am.” They would look at me and just smile.

I first was introduced to Betty last summer when she was admitted to Urban 4 with a small bowel obstruction. As I walked into her room, I felt an instant connection with her. She looked at me with her big brown eyes, grinning from ear to ear, even with her nasogastric tube clamped. Betty was completely obstructed and needed surgery. But because she had chemo a few weeks before, she had to wait some time. As I stood at her bedside pushing barium through her NGT, we really got to know each other. She would tell me about her two boys, how much she loved her grand kids, and all the cross-country adventures she had with Roger, her husband. I would talk about my family, how my parents just moved cross-country to Oregon and about a big family reunion I was planning at my house.

Because Betty was going to be with us for a while, I decided to move her into a private room. At that time, I got to know Roger. He was coming in every day and spending all day with her. He cracked me up with his stories of Betty and him. This pair was a class act, and you could see how much love they shared. It was truly amazing. Betty eventually had her surgery and went to CCU postoperatively. 

The day she was transferred back to our unit, I personally went down to CCU to help transport. I was excited to see her, and she gave me the biggest hug and kiss on the cheek. “Robyn, I missed you,” she said with a huge smile. “How was your party?”
 
I was glad to have her back with me. I would change my assignment just to have her as a patient. But suddenly, Betty took a turn for the worse. She was having difficulty breathing and needed BiPAP machine. Physicians performed a thoracentesis and made her comfortable. She would be discharged within the next few days. I was going on vacation and was upset to have to leave her. She was sad I was going. We embraced, and I told her I would always be with her. I checked on her while on vacation, and she made it home.

My first day back, I ran into Roger, who told me Betty was about to have surgery to remove more fluid from her lungs. I was able to surprise her in the holding area of the OR and then postoperatively on another unit. She was doing well and was to be discharged soon. Just two days later, Betty was readmitted to PCU. She was dying and was given a DNR order. She wasn’t going to make it through the night. I ran down to see her. She looked so peaceful, resting comfortably in bed, surrounded by her family and friends. Tears immediately ran down my face as I leaned on Roger for comfort. “You’re all she talked about when she got home. She loved you so much,” Roger said. 

He thanked me for all the care I had given his wife while she was with me. I was overwhelmed with sadness, something I had never before experienced with a patient. I whispered in her ear that I was there next to her and gently kissed her cheek.

Betty died just a few hours later. She was at peace.

To me, being a nurse is unlike any other profession. We may get yelled at by our patients and physicians, but the love that we get from patients and the care that we provide outweighs all the rest. This is why I am a nurse. 

Robyn L. Pascale, RN, BSN, is a shift supervisor on 4B at Saint Clares Hospital in Denville, N.J.

Many of you have heard of the Ironman competition.  It consists of a 3 part test of endurance, competition, and will power.  The 3 legs of the Ironman competition, consisting of a swim, bike ride, and marathon made me think of how the LPN/Paramedic to BS in Nursing through The College Network and Indiana State University is its own test of endurance and will power.

Below is a recap of how the Online LPN to BS in Nursing works, and its Ironman equivalent.

Phase I – The College Network (Ironman Equivalent = 2.4 Mile Swim)

•  Study The College Network’s Comprehensive Learning Modules and complete end-of-course equivalency exams to earn credit for your prerequisite and nursing courses (link to program brochure)
•  Experience learning entirely online in our Online Resource Center (link to the ORC demo) which is designed to uniquely compliment various learning styles
• Work at your own pace  (If you can commit to studying an average of one hour per day, you can expect to test out of a course once every 3-6 weeks)
•  Succeed with The College Network. We guarantee you will pass each exam and offer academic support via phone, email, and online chat 5 days a week
•  Take your exams online from the comfort of your home.

Phase II – Complete 4 Customized Study Modules (Ironman Equivalent = 112 Mile Bike Ride)

• Apply and enroll into Indiana State University
• Study the 4 College Network Customized Study Modules (CSMs) to test out of those 4 courses
• Take and pass your 4 CSM Exams Online Directly Through Indiana State

Phase III – Indiana State University and Clinicals (Ironman Equivalent = 26.2 Mile Run (aka a marathon)

• Apply to the Indiana State Nursing School
• Complete 12 remaining nursing courses through Indiana State online
• All remaining courses are online, asynchronous, and based on 16 week semesters with summers off
• Complete your clinical hours with a preceptor at a local facility
• Graduate with your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Indiana State University
  • Average completion time for your BSN degree is 3-5 years (Phases I and II are self-paced, whereas Phase III is not)
• Prepare for your state RN boards with The College Network “Rx for NCLEX Success” (link to more info) developed in partnership with the National League for Nursing
• Become an RN and earn up to $20,000 more annually!

So what are you waiting for?  Would you rather compete in the Ironman competition, or get going on your online nursing degree?  Either way, let me know, and I'll be happy to help you get started (at least on the nursing program)!

Kevin Burton, Program Advisor, 1-800-307-1006 Ext. 4734, kburton@collegenetwork.com

 Working in Appointment Coordinating for The College Network, I witness firsthand the full spectrum of nurses' attitudes regarding continuing education online.  Everything from flat-out disinterest, to casual interest, to curiosity, to excitement, and unfortunately even desperation.  One end of the spectrum reflects people who are comfortable where they are and really feel no need to spend the time or money to take the next step.  The other end represents people whose jobs have been eliminated or who cannot find jobs in the first place and see no other choice than to obtain the education necessary to keep them competitive in their career field.

The question is, why wait until it is too late?  The time to take the next step is now; it's about being proactive in regards to job security and job advancement rather than reactive.  LPNs and LVNs are realizing that they need to become RNs, and many RNs who are either holders of associate degrees or are diploma nurses are realizing that a BSN or MSN not only makes sense, but is becoming the expectation.  

The other good thing about being preemptive is that The College Network's degree programs are structured around your busy schedule.  Here at The College Network, we understand that you work crazy hours and often have a family to raise on the side.  Our self-paced, online programs are made for busy people like you.  So do what you do best, and keep it moving---give us a call today! 1-800-39-LEARN 

Can you believe August has already rolled around and the start of fall semester is right around the corner? It seems like just yesterday we were all talking about our New Year’s resolutions and what we wanted to achieve this year. Now here we are, 8 months into the year with 2012 coming quickly around the bend.

All of this brought to mind some words I heard when I was a kid. I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother and her friends. I guess I was one of those kids who was a bit older than my years. Anyway, I remember one of my grandmother’s friends telling me that as we grow older time seems to go by faster. At the time this made absolutely no sense to me. The words fell on young and confused ears.

But as I grow older I’m beginning to understand. A week is still a week and has the same number of days and hours but my how they fly by now that my time is stretched between so many commitments and responsibilities. As a kid, a month used to feel more like three months; but now feels like only two weeks.

Hhhhhmmmm, a month; what could I accomplish in a month?

I recently watched this brief video of a gentleman named Matt Cutts talking for a few minutes about the value of 30 days and how he changed his life by challenging himself 30 days at a time.

Stop reading and watch the video…you won’t regret it.

...

Did you watch it?

...

What would you like to change in 30 days? Are there things you wanted to achieve this year that have fallen by the wayside?

There are still 5 months left in this year. What could you accomplish in that time? What could you do in just 30 days?

If while reading this post, or watching Matt’s talk you found yourself thinking about your educational goals and the fact that you’d like to complete an advanced nursing degree, become a BSN, or learn more about online degrees from leading universities, call The College Network (1.800. 395.1014).

Challenge yourself. Let’s see what you can accomplish before the end of 2011.

cd 

 

My Name is Maykel Verdecia Alonso. I studied registered nursing in Cuba for 5 years (from 1996 to 2001). Before taking the national state licensing exam, I legally migrated to the United States as a refugee. The reason why I did not take the national licensing exam in Cuba was because I was afraid that I was not going to be able to leave the country (the Cuban government, in order to avoid professionals leaving the country, has dictated laws that prohibit graduated students from leaving unless they spend 3-5 years performing social services). Since I had the urgency to leave the country, I decided to voluntary drop out of school and immigrate to the USA.

Soon after I arrived in the United States, I went to City College of San Francisco to learn English as second language. I discovered that City College also had an LVN refresher program for foreign nurses, so I enrolled in that to become a licensed nurse and apply to the CA-LVN Board. My hopes to be a nurse started to become a reality; even though, I was considered to be a drop off nursing student-immigrant from Cuba.

Soon after a fully credentialed evaluation and completion of the LVN refresher program, the LVN Board granted me the authorization to take the licensing exam. Since 2001 I have been working as an LVN in the United States.

When I felt confident working as a nurse, learned more about US law, rules and regulation, and gained more skills following policies and procedures; I decided to apply to the RN Board. Soon after I applied, the CA RN Board wanted my official transcripts from Cuba again (Cuban transcripts are to be use in Cuba National territory ONLY unless they are released by the government). After waiting a response from Cuba for several years, my immigration status in the US, Cuba-USA embargo, and after I realized that everywhere I go, institutions would request official transcripts, I decided to go back to school and retake all the classes I took for nursing in Cuba.

Since City College of Saint Francisco was the first institution that I enrolled in when arrived to the United States, I decided to complete my general education with them, and I have earned more than 80 units of general education. It is time for me to pursue my educational goal in this country, which is why I have applied to Indiana State University (ISU) to hopefully get into their LVN to BSN program.

Before I enroll into ISU, I first need to pass the ISU pre-exams which educational materials and preparation is offered by The College Network. Thanks to the excellent customer services of College Network and the excellent study materials offered, I already completed two of the pre-requisite exams needed for the LVN to BSN program of ISU.

Thanks to The College Network, Indiana State University and City College of San Francisco for allowing me to pursue higher education. I had to struggle with the political struggles between US and Cuba but it does not mean that I will not pursue my educational goal which is to become a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

As of today, I have an LVN license granted by the CA-LVN Board, I have 80 units of general education earned at CCSF, I have eight years of experience as an LVN, I have successfully completed the joint LVN-refresher refresher training program for foreign and American nurses, which is equivalent to two hundred twenty hours of nursing theory at CCSF, and 360 hours of laboratory and clinical practice in medical surgical nursing at St. Francis Hospital, General Hospital, and leadership / skilled nursing at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center; thus, 5 years of nursing education in Cuba, whose courses and grades were officially evaluated by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

I would imagine there are other foreign trained nurses like me that would like to go back to school and that are not able to get their documents from their home countries (i.e. the school has closed, has changed name, has burned down during the war, are not politically related with this country, or simply are not willing to produce this type of document). For them, I would like to share my nursing experience.

Name: Maykel Verdecia
From: California

I decided to become a nurse to help others. I love being a nurse. I care about other people. I feel a great satisfaction when I have the privilege to care for others, advise, & teach people.

I'm a caring, empathetic nurse, who understands & listens to patients. I love my job. I would not trade it for all the money in the world! I can't see myself as doing anything different! I'm working on my LVN to BSN, currently. One day I will become an OR Nurse!

Name: Anna Jaimes
From: California

I had already had some past medical experience, but I lost my mother unexpectedly. She had just retired a few months before, and her sudden death really hit me hard.

It dawned on me that my three teenagers would be done with high school soon and without my mother to be with once they were out of the house and onto college, what would I do? I thought about all of the previous jobs I have had, and I remembered how much I liked the medical field, but I didn't want to do the front office part of it any longer.

I decided I wanted to become a nurse and give back to repay all the staff that tried to help save my mother's life while she struggled those last few days in the hospital. I took all of my prereqs at community college (even though I'm considerably older than the standard college student) and enrolled in the nursing program.

I am currently an LVN who is continuing on to get my RN with a BSN. I hope my mom would be proud of all I have accomplished... my kids are!

Name: Val Pohle
From: California

It has taken me 20 years to become a Nurse. I finished high school in 1979 and was a CNA when I graduated. My teacher encouraged me to be a nurse due to my good grades/clincial in her class past two years of school.

Nursing class was full so I entered the ORT program and graduated. I got married had three children and could not go back to school until I was divorce in 1993. I got my CNA II in 1993, and my salary increased a little. My employer was always pushing me to go back to school, but I just had to find a way to make it happen. I worked hard being a single parent, but I knew I had to go on to school.

When my oldest child graduated in 1999, she said mommy you can get into school now. I started to school in 1999-2000 and in 2004, I was being pinned as a LPN graduate. WOW!!!

I said,"I'm finish now". But, I just could not stop. I still had others pushing me to go on to be an RN. In 2008, I graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing (RN)working full time with a new grand baby joined my family all at home with me and one in college. GOD is GOOD!!!

Now, I'm thinking about or trying to make that BSN bridge to MSN. My granddaughter is now 10-years-old and still at home with mema. I LOVE NURSING!!!!

Name: Gloria Martin
From: North Carolina

When I was a child, I wanted to be a nurse to help others get well as my grandmother's sister had done. When I was a teen, as a volunteer, I assisted RNs of the day render basic care for the vulnerable ill both young and old. As I worked among the RNs, I could not imagine a better profession to serve humanity in a more altruistic fashion.

When I was a nursing student, one professor asked me why I wished to become an RN and I replied: "To help people." She responded that this was not a good enough reason. In my mind then, I begged to differ, as for me, helping others was a passion.

Since my graduation and initial RN registration in 1980, I held on to my ideals and throughout my long career have strived to have make the lives of so many more meaningful in life, dignified in death, more wholly healed, more informed to make good health decisions or meet goals of self care, more able to adjust to the difficult consequences of illness, and to promote and support better health and to return others to the highest level of functioning.

I just finished an RN to BSN program early this year. It was hard but worth it. My studies, I believe, have extended my professional options and have made me a better citizen. RN skill sets are evolving to higher degrees of complexity requiring more advanced levels of education. I noted during my BSN studies that the life work of many great nursing leaders past and present remind the student that there is always more that needs to be done to promote health-related change at the organizational, professional, scientific, local, state and national levels.

I believe that nurses need to advocate at the health policy level to enact meaningful change, to contribute to the scientific database from a nursing perspective and educate new generations of nursing leaders given the shifting priorities of healthcare towards health promotion and prevention. There is so much to do.

I am still a nurse for the right reason today, as I was when I began years ago. To passionately and altruistically serve humanity as a whole person healer, a leader, a scientist, activist, an educator and advocate honor that commitment I made as a child long ago to help others.

That is me on the right, RN to BSN grad with Barb, another nurse who will soon graduate with a Master's degree in nursing education.

Name: Jagjeet Kaur Khalsa RN, BSN
From: California