Nurses work while earning degrees, study at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Providence campus
KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Sept. 25, 2014 鈥� Gail Murray鈥檚 career has no limits. In two decades, she鈥檚 gone from working as a medical secretary to working as a registered nurse 鈥� and now she鈥檚 about to take another leap in her professional life.
The 55-year-old Smithfield resident is enrolled in a thriving program at the 溏心vlog免费B站 that allows registered nurses to obtain their bachelor鈥檚 degrees while continuing to work.
The students enrolled in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 program are registered nurses who have a two-year associate鈥檚 degree or a three-year hospital diploma, as well as their state nursing license. The program is especially appealing to women like Murray who want to continue working 鈥� and earning money 鈥� while studying for a bachelor鈥檚.
鈥淚s it hard? Yes. But it鈥檚 definitely worth every minute of my time,鈥� says Murray. 鈥淚鈥檓 furthering my career and my knowledge in the field. My advice to anyone thinking about it is, 鈥楧o it. You can get it done.鈥� 鈥�
R.N.-to-B.S. programs are sweeping the country as the health care industry undergoes rapid changes and registered nurses strive to strengthen their resumes 鈥� and advance patient care.
Diane Martins, coordinator for the R.N.-to-B.S. program at 溏心vlog免费B站, points to a 2010 report by the Institute of Medicine recommending that 80 percent of registered nurses obtain their bachelor鈥檚 degrees by 2020. 鈥淭he Future of Nursing鈥� findings show bachelor鈥檚 degrees in nursing translate into better patient outcomes.
鈥淕etting a bachelor鈥檚 in nursing is more important now than ever,鈥� says Martins. 鈥淭he health care industry is changing fast, so it鈥檚 crucial to stay on top of nursing developments to give patients the best care possible.鈥�
The program is remarkable for another reason: It showcases a strong partnership between 溏心vlog免费B站 and Care New England hospitals where the students work, some for decades. Both the University and Care New England collaborate to accommodate the students鈥� busy schedules.
In many ways, Murray is a typical R.N.-to-B.S. student at 溏心vlog免费B站. She鈥檚 older, working full-time and devoted to her patients. 鈥淚 love what I do,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love taking care of people.鈥�
She started at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence as a medical records clerk in 1981. From there, she went to the billing office and, in 1989, became a secretary in the oncology unit. But she was restless and wanted more.
In 1999, she enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island for her associate鈥檚 degree. She took one class every semester and continued to work full-time at the hospital 鈥� and raise two children. Nine years later, she had her degree.
She landed a job in the post-anesthesia surgical unit at Women & Infants, a job she still holds today. But, again, she longed for new challenges.
In January, she enrolled in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 R.N.-to-B.S. program with Care New England, which includes Women & Infants. During the week, she works three 12-hour shifts, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and attends classes at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Alan Shawn Feinstein campus in Providence on Tuesdays, from noon to 8 p.m. 鈥淚 never stop,鈥� she says.
The instruction, she says, is excellent. Courses range from medical ethics and nursing leadership to statistics and evidence-based research. She鈥檒l also do a clinical rotation at another hospital.
Care New England pays 75 percent of her tuition costs, and she covers the rest, which she estimates is $4,000 for the entire 21-month program. She expects to get her degree in November 2015.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to show young people that even though you didn鈥檛 go to college right out of high school, you can go any time in your life,鈥� says Murray. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to do it all at once. In the end, you鈥檒l see results.鈥�
For Dawn Williams, 36, of Providence, the financial help provided by Care New England was the 鈥渄riving force鈥� behind her decision to enroll in the program. She is grateful she can continue working 鈥� in the medical surgical unit at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket 鈥� while taking courses.
She also values 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 skilled instructors and the camaraderie among students. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all professional nurses and advanced learners,鈥� says Williams, who received her nursing diploma at St. Joseph鈥檚 School of Nursing in North Providence in 2007. 鈥淲e鈥檙e colleagues. We all try to support each other.鈥�
The program is the start of what Williams expects to be a successful career in the field. After getting her bachelor鈥檚, she hopes to pursue her master鈥檚 degree and teach nursing some day 鈥� maybe at 溏心vlog免费B站.
With four children and a full-time nursing job, Amy Smith, 44, of Providence, appreciates that 溏心vlog免费B站 and Care New England make sure nurses can fit courses into their hectic schedules. She works at an inpatient psychiatric unit at Butler Hospital in Providence while caring for her four children.
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 and Care New England makes this doable for us,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the most important thing for me.鈥�
For more information about the R.N.-to-B.S. program, contact Martins at 401-874-2766 or John O鈥橪eary, director of special programs at 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 College of Continuing Education in Providence, at 401-277-5054.
Besides Memorial Hospital, Women & Infants and Butler Hospital, Care New England hospitals are Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick and the Visiting Nurse Association of Care New England.
Pictured above, in pink scrubs: Gail Murray, of Smithfield, who is enrolled in the R.N.-to-B.S. program at the 溏心vlog免费B站. Photo courtesy of Gail Murray.
Pictured above, in white scrubs: Dawn Williams, of Providence, who is enrolled in the R.N.-to-B.S. program at the 溏心vlog免费B站. Photo courtesy of Dawn Williams.