RN Michelle Lane’s great-grandmother had always emphasized continuing education. As a teacher with an advanced degree, she saw the value in going beyond an entry-level credential.
So did Lane.
But wanting to go back to school and having the time to do so didn’t align for almost a decade.
“I always said — even 11 years ago — that I was going to do it. Then life happened and I didn’t,” she says. “It was time.”
Lane had both the time and the means. As an LHC Group employee, Lane had access to reduced tuition toward her bachelor’s degree through the LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing online RN to BSN program.
Approaching Online Learning as a Caregiver
Lane was already working full time as a registered nurse when her great-grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Lane became a central part of her great-grandmother's care team.
The physical, mental and emotional demand of both roles meant Lane was at capacity. Any other goals were put on hold. After her great-grandmother passed away in 2021, Lane thoughts returned to education.
“I couldn’t balance work, caregiving, and adding school to that,” she says. “When she died, I said, ‘it’s time. This is what she wanted.’ So here we are.”
Lane never stopped learning in her decade as an RN, but returning to school as an online student was a big change.
"As a nurse, you're always learning. Maybe not in a classroom, but there's always some type of education. But when I got my RN, it was in person,” says Lane. “So, it was a challenge not only being a student again and having schoolwork but also doing it online.”
Not that it’s a bad thing.
“I had never taken an online class, but it's been nice,” she says. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I feel like UL Lafayette has made the process as easy as possible. I feel like anybody can do it if they want to do it."
A big part of that experience is the program's faculty, who are solely dedicated to online RN to BSN students. Instructors are also trained and certified to teach online.
“I really enjoyed all the RN to BSN faculty,” says Lane. “Even though they've way surpassed us in education and experience, they're very down to earth. It feels like they really care and want us to succeed, so they provided all the tools we need.”
Earning a BSN is the First Step
Lane was navigating this new approach to learning while also moving from Louisiana to Texas and changing jobs — twice.
When Lane enrolled in the RN to BSN program, she was working 8-to-5 and devoting an hour or two each evening to coursework. Now that she’s working longer hours three days a week, she’s had to re-assess.
“I try to knock out my assignments before the week before gets crazy and I have trouble concentrating,” she says.
The payoff is not just a BSN degree, but also a whole new way of approaching her practice.
"The evidence-based practice content makes you think differently as a nurse every day,” she says. “Everything always is changing in health care.”
And understanding evidence-based practice helps ensure registered nurses are able to review, assess, and apply up-to-date research.
Lane plans to take that understanding to the bedside and into her next degree program. She’s already researching MSN degree programs to enroll as soon as possible.
“If I take a break,” she says, “it’ll be another 10 years.”