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“Military pricing, eight-week classes, the recommendation from others
at Inova—it all lined up.” Today, Inova Mount Vernon is an educational
partner of American Sentinel.

Three years of hard work

In 2013, Erica started the MSN, Nursing Education specialization. “I took
college with me everywhere I went,” Erica says. “To my kids’ practices and
activities—everywhere. My kids learned that we are all lifelong learners
and that education boosts your career.”

In fact, when Erica finished the MSN in March 2016, she applied for and
got a job as the clinical nurse educator for critical care at Inova. “I manage
the education for nurses in the CCU, emergency department, intermediate
care and the observation unit,” she says. “It’s very different from anything
I’ve done before, and very rewarding.” Without the MSN, Erica adds, she
wouldn’t have been a candidate for the job. “I wanted to use the degree I
was pursuing, and it was amazingly perfect timing. I feel like it was meant
to be.”
More education in her future

One year after finishing the MSN and taking on her new role, Erica says
she is thinking about pursuing the Doctor of Nursing Practice Educational
Leadership at American Sentinel. “There’s a lot of opportunity for me
to grow as an educator here at Inova,” she says. “I had such a good
experience at American Sentinel and the DNP intrigues me. As I’ve moved
into leadership, I know that a doctorate would benefit me. I’m taking a
break before take my next step, but I’m definitely not done with education.”

www.americansentinel.edu

4 | Transforming Healthcare Through Education