Growing up in the heart of Lafayette, Shantell Dugas always felt a calling to make a meaningful impact in her community.
Today, as a nurse practitioner at the Ochsner Cancer Center of Acadiana, she embodies that commitment by bringing compassion and expertise to her patients every day.
How did she get to this point? It’s a story marked by her pursuit of multiple degrees, including the online RN to BSN and MSN programs at UL Lafayette.
In her role, Dugas navigates a range of patient needs, from iron deficiencies to life-threatening cancers.
“My day consists of seeing a total of 10 patients, each from different walks of life,” she says. “Some patients are for curative intent, while some require palliative care; just helping their disease progress as comfortably as possible.”
Her mission? To make a difference in every life she touches by providing high-quality, patient-centered care.
From LPN to RN
Dugas’ journey in healthcare began at a local technical college, where she earned her LPN certification in 2006.
Upon starting her career at University Medical Center, a valuable opportunity arose.
“They promoted that you could go back to school, and they would pay for your tuition,” she recalls. “So, I took that opportunity and returned to school in Alexandria, where I earned my associate degree in nursing.”
But with her associate degree under her belt, she still felt a lingering urge to keep going.
Driven by her aspiration to lead, Dugas knew she needed to continue her education. This time, she enrolled in the online RN to BSN program at UL Lafayette.
Continuing to Climb
Balancing full-time work, studies, and family life, Dugas often felt like she was walking a tightrope.
Juggling these responsibilities required a solid strategy.
“Prioritizing and staying engaged is really important,” she says. “They give you a syllabus, a schedule of when things are going to be due, and when you're going to be testing, so I liked to make a calendar to help organize myself and make sure I was on top of those things.”
While working through the RN to BSN program, she was also caring for her child and working full time.
“It came with a lot of late nights and early mornings,” she admits.
But with the flexibility of online education, she made it work.
“It’s easy to access even from your phone at all times,” she says. “It’s flexible, and you can work on your own time, which is great for all individuals. Although it is a discipline, the beauty of online learning is the flexibility and structure.”
Beyond the flexible schedule, the support from the faculty made a significant impact.
“The instructors were easy to access through email, some even gave you their personal phone numbers,” she says. “No matter what the question was, they were always there.”
Reaching New Heights
After completing the RN to BSN program, Dugas realized she needed more qualifications to advance her career.
“Once I earned my bachelor’s, I didn't necessarily get as many opportunities as I expected,” she admits. “So I said, ‘Well, the only way to make more opportunity for yourself is to go back to school.’”
Determined to open new doors, Dugas returned to UL Lafayette to pursue her MSN degree.
And the convenience of online learning proved invaluable once again.
“It really helped with time management,” she says. “I didn’t have to leave my job to be able to continue my education.”
Balancing the demands of a master’s program with a growing family, she relied on her skills in time management and organization.
“By the time I was in the master’s program, I had two kids. I worked full-time, did clinicals, and everything else the program required,” she says.
But her husband, a steadfast partner since her days as an LPN, was a pillar of support.
"If he saw I had an assignment to complete, or if I was down about a test or something, he was just there to listen,” she says. “He doesn’t even know how much I appreciate him because even though it wasn’t necessarily his dream, he was always supportive of anything I wanted to do to further my education or career.”
Bringing it All Together
Today, Dugas pours her passion into community involvement through Leadership Lafayette, a program that educates participants on local needs and impact strategies.
"I'm really liking that because I'm learning a lot about community law and how to make a difference," she explains. "Repping Class 37, best class ever!"
Driven by a passion for the health of her community, Dugas is determined to help others stay healthy to prevent future health problems.
“I'm really into fitness, so I’m interested in connecting fitness with wellness,” she says. “Obesity is a big problem in our area, and if we can catch people earlier, when they are younger, we can avoid having them on all these different medications to treat all these different problems down the line.”
And while she’s made significant strides, her journey is far from over.
In fact, she’s even considering taking her education a step further by pursuing a doctorate degree.
"I’m still interested in learning the business aspect and bridging the gap of nursing to business," she says.
As she looks to the future, she emphasizes the importance of investing in yourself.
“A nursing instructor told this to me, and I never forgot it, ‘Never forget to pay yourself once you’re done,’” she says. “And remember that nothing worth having comes easy. Don’t give up on yourself because you never know what’s going to find you.”
Ready to level up your nursing career? Find out more about our online Master’s of Nursing program today.
