Page 11 - Geisinger-Success-Story-Ebook-11-14-2017a

Bettering herself with an MSN

During her employee review in 2012, Valerie’s manager encouraged her
to consider furthering her education. “American Sentinel University was
a school I had heard great things about, so I figured I would try one class,”
she says. Online learning appealed to her for its convenience as well
as another important reason. “I’ve been in central Pennsylvania for a long
time, and I liked the idea of getting to know other nurses from all over
the country. I felt it would offer me different perspectives, and that was
exciting for me.”

Open doors

In 2013, a position opened up in Geisinger’s Shamokin Area Community
Hospital: operations manager of the adult medical/surgical and orthopedic
care center. “Progressing toward the MSN definitely opened up the
door for this opportunity,” Valerie says. “I love this role because the adult
intensive care unit was my first passion, and I’m now applying the clinical
and leadership skills I’ve learned throughout my career and in school.”
Valerie graduated with the MSN, nursing management and organizational
leadership specialization, in May 2015. Since graduation, she was given
the additional responsibility to oversee her hospital’s special care unit.

Built confidence

With the MSN, Valerie says she has gained a skill she didn’t necessarily
think about when she applied to American Sentinel. “Education gives
you confidence,” she says. “Until I went to American Sentinel, I felt like I’d
done many things that a master’s-prepared nurse does, but I didn’t have
the degree to go with my level of expertise.”
Now that she has those credentials under her belt, Valerie is quick to
encourage other nurses to pursue additional education. “We are a Magnet
facility that holds all nurses to a high standard of excellence, so I
tell my staff that earning the BSN or MSN is worthwhile and will help
them do what they want to do in the long run,” she says. “And with the
ability to go at your own pace and the great support at American Sentinel, I
recommend the school all the time.”

www.americansentinel.edu

Transforming Healthcare Through Education | 11