When Marla Dyson decided to go back to school after 25 years, she planned to earn a Master of Science in Nursing degree to become a family nurse practitioner. Instead, she chose nursing education track and found a path that小蝌蚪APP檚 provided personal fulfillment and a professional challenge.
小蝌蚪APP淭eaching became a more attractive option once I saw what a rewarding experience it was; I had 25 years of nursing under my belt so I was able to help shape future nurses,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 enjoy being able to make a difference and touch not only the students who are going to be nurses, but also their patients.小蝌蚪APP
Dyson now teaches in the 小蝌蚪APP Bachelor of Science in Nursing program 小蝌蚪APP the same program she completed 25 years ago. She says even then, she knew she wanted to pursue an MSN degree.
小蝌蚪APP淥ne of my professional goals was always to get a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淯L Lafayette prepares you very well in the profession, but nursing is a lifelong learning career. I always had desire to learn more, be more skilled, and advance.小蝌蚪APP
Dyson says once her children were older and more self-sufficient, she thought it would be a good time to look into earning her advanced degree.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen I first got out of nursing school, the only option you had to earn a master小蝌蚪APP檚 was to actually come to campus for night classes,小蝌蚪APP Dyson says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hat really wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 feasible with family and young kids.
But with the online program, I was able to work with a more flexible schedule and achieve my goal of getting a master小蝌蚪APP檚 degree.小蝌蚪APP
The nurse educator says she was nervous about reprising her role as a student after more than two decades in the workforce and adapting to the fully online environment. But through UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 nationally ranked online MSN program, she found the support to rise to the challenge.
小蝌蚪APP淭here was a learning curve, especially with the teaching style and not being in a classroom, but the instructors were very engaging and helped me to overcome that,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey also had different activities to bring students together for interactive learning. They did their best to meet everyone小蝌蚪APP檚 learning needs.
小蝌蚪APP淭he first semester was difficult, but if you stick it out; it becomes easier and extremely rewarding.小蝌蚪APP
Her professors served as mentors, reinforcing Dyson小蝌蚪APP檚 decision to pursue the nursing education track.
小蝌蚪APP淭hey were good role models of how I wanted to be and really encouraging,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭he faculty in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences really wants people to do well and to succeed. They小蝌蚪APP檙e willing to go over and above to make sure that happens.小蝌蚪APP
Meanwhile, going back to school while balancing work and family allowed Dyson to be an example for her children.
The support from her high-school-aged children as well as her husband were critical to her success in the online graduate program, Dyson says, along with her own planning efforts.
小蝌蚪APP淢y family was very supportive, and I was doing homework right alongside my children,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey saw that I was studying to make good grades and to achieve my goals. They were very proud of me when I graduated.小蝌蚪APP
She says she assessed her schedule weekly to designate when she would work on which assignments based on upcoming deadlines and due dates.
小蝌蚪APP淚t was manageable when you planned ahead, scheduled the time and actually did it when it was scheduled,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淵ou have to look at it as a commitment and stay focused on your goals.小蝌蚪APP
Dyson小蝌蚪APP檚 commitment paid off with a full-time faculty position with UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 College of Nursing and Health Sciences in January 2019. She teaches the first clinical course for undergraduate nursing students and will take on another course in the fall, emulating faculty who have become colleagues.
小蝌蚪APP淣ursing has provided a challenge for me my entire career,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭his is yet another challenge it小蝌蚪APP檚 presenting to me. It小蝌蚪APP檚 very rewarding not only as a career, but also in my own goal fulfillment 小蝌蚪APP making a difference.
小蝌蚪APP淚 absolutely love my role as a teacher.小蝌蚪APP
Take the first step toward shaping tomorrow小蝌蚪APP檚 nurses; request information for the Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education track without having to take the GRE.