Family is important to Shaunde Smith and Rheala СAPPShantelСAPP Parker. ItСAPPs where they derive their support to continue their education, and itСAPPs the culture theyСAPPve found within the СAPP Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) online program.
The sisters are family nurse practitioners in their hometown of Silsbee, Texas, where they care for patients across the lifespan.
Silsbee, about 30 miles north of Beaumont, has a population of 6,611 residents СAPP 16.6% of which live below the poverty line, as of the last census.
СAPPWe donСAPPt have a lot of Medicaid or Medicare providers in a 30-mile radius,СAPP says Parker, 44. СAPPSo we cover a large population of underserved Medicaid and Medicare patients. I donСAPPt think there are any other providers that see from birth to about 10 years old, so weСAPPre also the only ones who see those pediatric patients.СAPP
The sisters began their nursing careers together as licensed practical nurses. Together, the two continued their education to become the first in their family to earn bachelorСAPPs degrees, then mastersСAPP degrees.
СAPPWe graduated the first one together, and hopefully weСAPPll graduate last one together,СAPP Smith, 49, says. СAPPI think that the support and the friendly competition pushes you to do a little better. When it gets rough and the time constraints hit you, you have that person to support you.СAPP
As the only providers in the Silsbee Complete Healthcare Services clinic, Smith and Parker are driven to provide exceptional care. In 2018, the sisters decided to pursue their DNP degree online together through UL Lafayette.
СAPPNursing is continuously changing,СAPP Parker says. СAPPAs I grew within my nursing career, I wanted more of a role in my patientСAPPs day-to-day care and the ability to change things I felt were being missed in daily care.
СAPPTruly itСAPPs to optimize the level of care I provide my patients, have that ability to become a leader among my community, and really be able to drive some of these interdisciplinary teams. I really want to push within my community for better healthcare for some of our underprivileged.СAPP
In choosing a DNP program, the two family nurse practitioners knew they wanted a high-quality online program that would still give them access to faculty and a physical campus.
СAPPI donСAPPt think thereСAPPs any way I could do this program if it was not online,СAPP Parker says. СAPPIt would have just been something unachievable for me. I have a daughter; IСAPPm a single mom. ThereСAPPs no way to carve out time at someone elseСAPPs discretion of when I have to sit down and do everything; thatСAPPs one of the greatest parts of the online program.СAPP
UL Lafayette СAPP annually recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its graduate nursing programs СAPP quickly rose to the top of their short list.
СAPPWhen we called, Dr. (Jennifer) Lemoine got right on the phone; she answered all our questions,СAPP Smith says. СAPPHer enthusiasm over the program, that really put UL (Lafayette) over the top. We were already leaning in that direction, but her enthusiasm, talking to us and welcoming us, made such a difference.СAPP
Choosing to pursue a terminal degree can be a daunting task, if not an overwhelming prospect. To prepare students for whatСAPPs to come, UL LafayetteСAPPs online DNP program begins with a two-day orientation СAPP on campus.
СAPPWeСAPPd both had thoughts of, СAPPweСAPPre just not sure СAPP is this the right time?СAPP Our parents are supportive, but theyСAPPre not exactly young,СAPP Parker says. СAPPWhen we went through orientation, we left knowing if thereСAPPs a time, this is the place where we can do it.
СAPPThey made you comfortable with the courses, what was going to be required and gave you the feeling that they were there to support us. We werenСAPPt out there alone. Anything we need, theyСAPPre a phone call away.СAPP
Smith agrees, saying orientation was a chance to put names with faces.
СAPP(Orientation) gave us a great opportunity to develop relationships with classmates and faculty,СAPP she says. СAPPTalking to them, seeing their personality, you feel like you can relate to them. It gives you that extra feeling of support.СAPP
That support was much needed as the sisters pushed through their first semester, trying to strike a balance among a full-time workload, family, and doctoral coursework.
СAPPThere were a lot of small assignments that werenСAPPt required, but encouraged. It was trying to find the middle ground. Both of us have always tried to do the very best; we felt we werenСAPPt doing ourselves justice or the program justice,СAPP Smith says.
On top of the pressure they felt to excel, their fatherСAPPs health began to deteriorate.
СAPPSo we did consider leaving the program for a semester,СAPP Smith says. СAPPWe just didnСAPPt know if thatСAPPs where we wanted to allocate our time.СAPP
But after speaking with professors Dr. Jennifer Lemoine and Dr. Jeanne Cartier, the sisters decided to remain in the program.
СAPPThank goodness we did,СAPP says Smith, now with a year in the program under her belt.
Dr. Cartier concedes earning a DNP degree is tough, but says faculty members do what they can to accommodate working nurse practitioners.
СAPPItСAPPs a rigorous program,СAPP Dr. Cartier says. СAPPWe will support students and walk with them СAPP or behind them and push them СAPP every step of the way, but they need to be the leaders.СAPP
Parker says faculty members continued to check in, asking how Smith and Parker were faring personally and as students.
СAPPThey were the epitome of kind and considerate. Honestly, it was like you wanted to welcome them into your family,СAPP she says. СAPPIt was just a really nice atmosphere. It was nice to know theyСAPPre willing to work with you. If they can do anything to ease the burden, they will. It was so appreciated at that moment.СAPP
The program is designed to ensure a supportive atmosphere among students, even through online interactions.
СAPPSometimes itСAPPs nice to have that person thatСAPPs going through the same thing. Whether itСAPPs sister or anyone you have,СAPP Parker says. СAPPAt UL (Lafayette), they make a real effort to have interaction among each one of the students. In our cohort, thereСAPPs no one I couldnСAPPt call.
СAPPI brought my СAPPfriendСAPP along, but they set up an atmosphere of collaboration among peers. TheyСAPPve done a better job than anywhere that IСAPPve seen or even heard of.СAPP
As Smith and Parker advance through the program, designs for their DNP Synthesis Projects are taking shape.
Smith says sheСAPPs interested in developing primary care screening protocols for adolescents to reduce the long-term effects of bullying, which can range from missed school days to suicide attempts.
Parker is exploring how to avoid long-term effects of obesity, like diabetes, in children ages 11-17 during wellness visit screenings.
The children in their community arenСAPPt the only ones who will benefit from ParkerСAPPs and SmithСAPPs endeavors.
SmithСAPPs 19- and 20-year-old daughters and ParkerСAPPs 15-year-old daughter have seen their mom and aunt blaze new trails as theyСAPPve set examples of lifelong learning and achievement.
СAPPWe are the first of our entire family to go to college, in general. For our family, it was quite an accomplishment,СAPP Parker says. СAPPWhen we went to LVN school together, it was a big deal for our parents, so I think just completing this program, and being able to have that family support, it was a blessing from God.СAPP