Goals and Dreams Don’t Have an Expiration Date
Even after 14 years on the job, Aspen taught Bulah to look at her work “through a different lens.”
Bulah P. has worked as a nurse for the past 14 years. “Being a nurse is not just a job for me. It’s not even a career. It’s a way of life.”
After obtaining her ADN in 2008, Bulah wanted to stay in school and get a BSN, but Bulah set her dreams aside while she concentrated on raising a family and putting food on the table.
“My goal of getting that BSN became a someday dream of mine.”
The associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) has been the benchmark credential for getting a nursing job for the past 40 years. However, a growing number of U.S. hospitals are now only hiring nurses that have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher. Given the recent changes in the healthcare industry – Bulah realized it was the right time to earn her BSN.
While researching BSN programs that would meet her needs, Bulah feared she would have trouble paying for school.
“It was mind-blowing how much some of these programs cost!”
After doing some investigating, Bulah found the right low-cost RN to BSN program.
Aspen’s affordable and responsible tuition plan was the incentive that drove Bulah to enroll, but it was the experienced and committed instructors that made her journey towards a BSN such a positive experience.
“They taught me to look at my work through a different lens. I took a leadership class in my BSN program, and I learned what it takes to run a hospital.”
Bulah appreciated the real-world experience the faculty brought to the table. For example, one of Bulah’s instructor spoke about her experiences as a travel nurse. In fact, this instructor and Bulah worked at the same hospital, although not at the same time.
She also appreciated how much digital knowledge she gained and spoke highly of the different resources available to help her throughout her program. She learned about different video conference options which allowed her to communicate face-to-face with her instructors. Bulah often turned to the writing center for help. They’d critique her papers, look for grammar errors, and provide quick feedback.
Bulah completed her BSN program in 2018, and she is thrilled with the education she received. Now a BSN-prepared nurse, she continues to follow her calling as a provider of patient care.
“I love what I do. I work 50 hours per week. Tomorrow’s my day off, and I’m going in at 6 A.M.”