After earning her associate degree in nursing, Mikaela Boone, of Connecticut, went straight to night shifts on a busy cardiac step-down unit.
The long hours left little time for anything else, but she knew she wanted a way to grow her career without leaving the bedside.
“My goal was to return for my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, but I knew I couldn't really do it at that job,” she says. “So, I switched gears and got a job at an outpatient methadone clinic with better hours.”
That schedule made it possible to focus on school and work at the same time. When colleagues recommended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s online RN to BSN program, Boone took a closer look.
The courses fit around her nursing shifts, and the program’s structure and reputation gave her confidence that it was the right move.
She applied, enrolled, and kept working full time.
“It almost felt like it’s not even online,” Boone says. “The professors were so attentive and available.”
With that support, she knew she could advance her education and take the next step in her nursing career.
Adjusting to the Virtual Classroom
Online learning was new to Boone, but she quickly built a system by mapping deadlines, blocking study hours on her calendar, and using course syllabi to guide her time.
“It's easy to get overwhelmed if you don't keep everything organized,” says Boone. “Submitting everything as early as possible was helpful.”
She also found herself challenged in areas that went beyond nursing fundamentals. Courses like NURS 421: Nursing Leadership and Management changed how Boone approaches conflicts at work.
“Conflict is something I’d normally avoid. But the program taught me that conflict doesn’t have to be a negative thing,” she says. “If you have the right skills to mediate, you can make it a constructive experience for everyone involved.”
For her capstone project in the program, Boone partnered with a local nursing home to develop a fall prevention plan, collaborating with a team she had never met before.
“The capstone project helped me get out of my shell,” she says. “We looked at how many falls happen in nursing homes and developed a plan to combat it. Then, we presented the plan to the nursing home’s leadership to get their feedback.”
The project required research, communication and confidence — skills she’ll carry throughout her career.
“Sometimes I can be scared to do new things, but I gained a lot of confidence in myself and in collaborating with others through the program.”
Building a Future in Labor and Delivery
At the start of her final semester, Boone pivoted to a new specialty in her nursing career: labor and delivery.
“My job is incredible,” she says. “I'm used to being with people on the worst days of their lives, but this is a career where I'm with people on the happiest.”
She plans to keep growing in her role before pursuing a graduate degree. She’s considering paths from nurse practitioner to nursing education and is taking time to research what feels right.
One thing she knows for sure: this is just the beginning.
Advance your nursing career with UL Lafayette’s online RN to BSN program.
