Many registered nurses who have received their ADN are faced with the decision of going back to school to advance their education.
As other nurses may begin to pull back from their professional life after thirty seven years of practice, current RN to BSN student Peggy Dyer has remained fully engaged as an oncology nurse coordinator at Methodist Hospital. In fact, she has been described as reinvented.
Peggy was recently presented the Clinical Excellence award from the March of Dimes. This award recognizes a nurse whose entire career has been spent in direct patient care providing the highest level of care and compassion for five years or more. She also was honored as the Methodist Health System employee of the month in June 2013.
An interest in education has reignited a passion for nursing as she has come to the realization that there is much more that she wants to accomplish professionally.
We took a few minutes to talk to Peggy to get her thoughts on the subject.
I graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Grand Island, Nebraska in 1976 and have worked as a registered nurse ever since. My decision to get my BSN was a hard one to make. I had lots of support and I really believe God puts people in your life for a reason.
I was fortunate enough to attend the AgeWise Summit with [NMC faculty] Deborah Conley and Fran Henton in 2010. The conference was full of well educated professionals and it was then I told my supervisor, Vici Sortino, that I felt like I was the least educated person there. One of the leaders of AgeWise challenged me to further my education.
Being a graduate of the AgeWise program reinvented my passion for nursing, especially the end of life aspect. I learned so much in that program. I voiced interest to one of the nurse practitioners who was developing the palliative care program at the hospital. Her response was "You don't have your BSN."
Then the hospital announced that all core nurses had to have their BSN by 2018 or step down from that position. The following year I attended the AgeWise Summit again and was approached me about my education. I declined the challenge at that time, but God knew what He was doing.
My current supervisor encouraged me as well as the others I mentioned to pursue a BSN degree. She reminded me that I had a lot to offer and other opportunities could open up with more education. After several discussions with my husband we decided continuing my education was right for us.
Managing the coursework varies from class to class, but I try to dedicate certain days to homework. I have not missed out on any family functions, but will admit some have been shortened because Grandma has to do homework. I have always studied in late evenings or into the night.
I do not have to take NRS 480 because I am an AgeWise graduate. I will graduate with my BSN in August of 2014.