Tristan Lollis wears his compassion on his scrub sleeves.
He's known for comforting patients with a cappella renditions of gospel standards. He drives 40 minutes to work so he can continue working near his hometown community.
And he's committed to advancing his nursing practice to provide the best possible care.
Lollis began his nursing career at Ochsner Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital in 2011 as a CNA on his way to becoming an LPN. In 2021, he earned his associate in nursing to become an RN. Four years later, he took his next step, enrolling in the online RN to BSN degree program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
All the while, he's remained with the same rural hospital.
"It's like taking care of your own, and it's like a family environment here," he says. "I decided to earn my BSN degree because I wanted to further my career and be a bigger part in helping the community."
From LPN to RN
As a high school graduate, Lollis knew his heart was in nursing.
"I just enjoy helping people," he says. "I enjoy the healing process and seeing the patients getting well. It gives me joy to be a part of that."
The traditional four-year BSN degree pathway, however, wasn't the right fit. So Lollis shaped his own path, simultaneously advancing his education and his career.
"Going from CNA to LPN to RN, my role changed drastically because the higher level that I achieved, the more responsibility I had," he says.
While pursuing his BSN degree, Lollis gained more responsibility, taking on a supervisory role. The online RN to BSN program provided knowledge beyond bedside care Lollis could apply as a charge nurse, from risk assessment to delegation.
"The things we learned throughout my courses were very practical to work," says Lollis.
"Promoting patient safety overall was a big focus in the program, as well as leadership, learning what I can do to better myself as a leader on the floor. Now I'm coaching employees and making sure they follow policy and procedures."
Applicable, Flexible
Lollis was confident in choosing the LHC Group • Myers School of Nursing at UL Lafayette for his RN to BSN degree after hearing coworkers describe its flexibility.
Courses in the RN to BSN degree program are 100% online and offered in 8-week terms, allowing students to create a schedule that fits their lives.
"It was accessible for me as a full-time night nurse to complete the program and to be able to do my assignments and tasks in a timely fashion," says Lollis.
"I didn't have to travel. I could do it in the comfort of my own home, on my own time. So, it made it very easy for me to be able to accomplish that goal from wherever."
His promotion to charge nurse added an extra layer of difficulty as he learned new concepts on and off the floor.
Online coursework enabled him to balance both responsibilities without becoming overwhelmed. He dedicated blocks of time on his days off to completing assignments.
Meanwhile, engaged faculty provided support for Lollis to succeed.
"I was particularly scared enrolling in the program because I knew it was more writing papers, and it had been years since I wrote a paper," Lollis says. "But the instructors were very easy to get in touch with and were very open to answering any questions that I had in a very timely fashion. They were very, very helpful."
Surprise Success
Lollis was able to balance his coursework alongside his other priorities well enough that his family didn't know he was earning his degree until he was preparing to graduate.
"I gave them an invitation, and I was like, 'surprise!'" says Lollis. "I'm a first-generation college graduate. My parents didn't get the opportunity to go to school and complete college. I did it to make them proud. It was a big thing for us as a family."
And Lollis is preparing for another degree of success to play an even larger part in rural patient care.
"My plan for the future, now that I have my BSN, is to further my education," he says. "Growing up and working in a rural area, it's very important to me to continue my education and become a family nurse practitioner. I plan to stay in the rural area to treat once I finish my degree."
Advance your nursing practice and career through the UL Lafayette RN to BSN degree program. Learn more or apply today.