From the Online Classroom to an Overseas Hospital

By admin | November 2, 2016

Rhea T. Williams, BSN, RN, BS is a married mother of two, a U.S. Air Force veteran and has worked as an ICU nurse in Germany and the US. She shares her experience as an online student pursuing her RN-BSN degree at UofL and details how the degree has made a difference in her career.

Tell us a little about your career path leading up to your decision to enroll at UofL.

“I came to nursing after working in other areas of healthcare for a few years. As a first generation immigrant to the U.S., I witnessed first-hand the struggle of trying to access healthcare and dealing with all other seemingly more pressing aspects of every-day life.

My career in nursing is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to become a primary healthcare provider. After the completion of my associate’s degree, I began working as a critical care nurse in an Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) in inner city Baltimore. I went on to become a Cum Laude graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses at University of Louisville while living in Germany, and I currently work as an ICU nurse at a large hospital and PRN ICU at a small community hospital. In addition to my degrees in nursing, I also hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.”

What motivated you to pursue an RN-BSN online program?

“My job as a critical care IMCU nurse in Baltimore placed me on the front lines of working with under-served populations. Most of the clients were uninsured and sought healthcare assistance only after multiple problems had compounded into complex cases. Even though I worked on the IMCU, our ICU at that facility was so small that we cared for clients that normally would be ICU patients at other hospitals.

It was a great learning experience and propelled me to further my education in Nursing so that I could be of greater assistance to those with the greatest need. I decided that I wanted to complete a bachelor’s in nursing and hopefully continue on to the FNP one day.”

Why did you choose UofL’s online RN-BSN?

“I chose UofL after much deliberation, because I knew that I would be completing the majority of my degree while living in Germany. It was important to me that the process of completing my degree was as streamlined as possible and that everything would be as accessible to me as if I was living in the United States.

While there are several wonderful universities in my home state of Maryland, I was searching for a school that would be able to tailor the program to my unique circumstances, while having the support systems of a large university. Of course it didn’t hurt that UofL is an amazing school with a great reputation in the academic world.”

What did you like best about the RN-BSN program at UofL?

“My favorite classes were A&P and Pharmacology, mostly because I found them to be the most challenging. I really appreciated taking those courses, as some BSN programs do not require these two classes for graduation. I think that they really provide a solid foundation for becoming a better nurse and for pursuing graduate level studies.”

Do you have a favorite project you worked on in this program?

“My absolute favorite was the community health project at the end of the program. As I was in Germany I had to go out into the community, explore the German healthcare system and collect various health statistics. I spoke with German doctors, nurses and healthcare administrators about how they approach care and how the national insurance system works there. It allowed me to gain a better understanding of different approaches to healthcare that I might not have otherwise experienced.”

How did the 100% online format work for you?

“Well, as you can guess by now, the online format would be the only one that would work for me. Frankfurt, Germany is six hours ahead of Maryland, and so an 8:00 a.m. start for me was the middle of “snooze time” for everyone physically at UofL. I needed to be able to access my virtual classroom at any time and complete coursework as necessary.

We also spent a good portion of time traveling, which made it important that the system requirements were as universally standard as possible so that I could use most computers anywhere to complete class tasks and assignments on Blackboard.”

How has UofL’s RN-BSN program helped you in your current position?

“I feel the education I received at UofL gave me the confidence to go into ICU nursing knowing that I had a good academic foundation. As I said earlier, I really value the coursework requirements in this program. Every class was informative, applicable and relevant to the practice of nursing today. It also fostered a desire to make improvements in my individual practice of nursing.

I personally wrote and developed a mentorship program for new nurses at my hospital using the tools that I gained completing my degree at UofL. The benefits of a UofL education are prominent and palpable.”

What does your current career path hold for you? Where would you like to go?

“I am currently in the process of completing applications for graduate school — yes, back to school for me. I plan on becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner and heading back to some of those immigrant and underserved communities I hold dear to my heart. It is my goal to complete the DNP as a terminal degree in nursing, but I am not ruling out an additional Masters in Public Health like one of my UofL professors and mentors.”

What advice do you have for other online students considering enrollment at UofL?

“In order to be successful at online learning, honest self-evaluation is key. Know how you learn, what you need in order to complete coursework and tasks. Know when to ask for help. Your professors are there to help you and will do what is needed to ensure that you gain the knowledge if you are putting forth the effort.

All of my professors at UofL were always only a short email away. Just because you are a distance student does not mean that you do not have the same access and support traditional students do.”

Join nurses like Rhea on a path to success with UofL online learning!

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at UofL is designed for nurses with an associate degree or a nursing diploma. The program potentially qualifies registered nurses for higher earnings and a broader range of employment opportunities. This program also facilitates the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that 80% of nurses earn a BSN degree by the year 2020.

UofL’s online RN-BSN program was recently honored with a ranking of ninth in the nation for value and curriculum quality by affordablecolleges.com. Working nurses can complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as five semesters, although students are welcome to take more time if needed.

UofL Introduces Online ESL Teaching Endorsement

By admin | October 27, 2016

The University of Louisville is proud to introduce a new online teaching endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL) for Kentucky certified teachers.

According to the Kentucky Department of Education, Kentucky’s P-12 student population speaks more than 94 different languages. UofL’s online ESL Endorsement is designed for certified teachers in Kentucky who want to be better equipped to teach English to the growing number of K-12 students whose first language is not English.

The ESL endorsement is a 12 credit hour graduate program structured in four courses and is offered both 100% online and in the more traditional face to face format. The curriculum focuses on ESL strategies that are research-based and recognized by experts as best practices in all P-12 teaching environments, including teaching English in an international context.

Requirements for earning an endorsement include completing two semesters of a foreign language (or a qualifying international language experience), 30 hours of ESL field experience, and passing the ESOL Praxis examination. Upon successful completion of these qualifications, the P-12 ESL Endorsement will be attached onto the initial Kentucky teaching certification.

“The English Language Learner student population is on the rise,” says Dr. Elizabeth Patton, ESL program director at the University of Louisville. “The ESL Endorsement at the University of Louisville provides specialized training for P-12 classroom teachers that is highly valued by both principals and administrators alike. Our completers consistently score in the 90% for the ESOL Praxis exam, which is a testimony to the rigorous preparation that our program provides.”

“While the program is designed for certified P-12 teachers, this is also a popular program of study for seminarians, language tutors, and other candidates wanting high-quality preparation for teaching English as private tutors and in preparation for teaching English as an International Language overseas.” added Dr. Patton.

Courses are offered every semester and admissions is on a rolling basis. For more details on admission requirements and deadlines, visit the program site.

UofL Introduces Online Program for Master of Education in Teacher Leadership

By admin | October 11, 2016

The University of Louisville is offering a new online graduate program for certified teachers—the Master of Education in Teacher Leadership.

In the changing landscape of learning, the best teachers are also leaders and visionaries who inspire leadership in others. The Teacher Leadership degree at UofL was developed by the College of Education and Human Development faculty in collaboration with educators and administrators at school districts, and is led by an experienced team of world-class professors. The curriculum prepares teachers certified in Kentucky to serve as leaders who can work strategically with peers, school and district administrators and learners of all ages to improve teaching and learning. Much of the content focuses on how teachers can sharpen their instructional practices to better facilitate student learning while also coaching other teachers to lead.

“This program was prepared especially for certified teachers looking to expand their skills and advance their careers,” says Dr. Pamela Jett, program director. “It’s innovative because it’s built around theories and practical techniques that help teachers learn to lead and empower colleagues, while also focusing on their own careers. Outcomes focus on ways to support both new and experienced teachers to develop and transform how we view teaching and learning is delivered, both in the classroom and in the greater school community.”

The online M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership also provides the opportunity for teachers to enhance their certification by adding an endorsement or specialization to the core coursework. Endorsements in Teacher Leadership, ESL, Gifted & Talented, Instructional Technology and Classroom Reading are just some of the ways teachers can expand their repertoire and truly have an impact on learning.

A bachelor’s degree earned from a regionally accredited institution as well as a valid Kentucky teaching license are required for admission to this program. The GRE is not required if the applicant has a minimum GPA of 2.75. Financial aid is available for all students who qualify.

Start dates for online courses are available each semester. For more details on admission requirements and deadlines, visit our website.

Seize The Day: Advice from a Recent Graduate of UofL’s RN-BSN Online Program

By admin | August 11, 2016

Forensic Nurse Specialist Emily Neal Makes the Case for “No Time Like the Present” as She Follows Her Own Passion

Seize the day. That’s the advice of Emily Neal, RN, a forensic nurse specialist and recent graduate of UofL’s online program for the RN-BSN degree.

“The online RN to BSN program at UofL is excellent,” says the recent grad, who, like many other nurses, had put off the decision to advance her degree. Once she joined UofL’s online program, however, the ease and convenience of the flexible format made the transition back to school much easier than she expected.

Her advice to other nurses looking to enroll?
“Just do it.”

“You have to start somewhere,” she adds. “And today is as good as any.”

Neal, who graduated in December of 2015, also expressed her appreciation for the program structure. Of particular note was the ability for nurses in the online program to tailor research topics, assignments and reports to areas of their own specialty.

Neal is a forensic nurse with a passion for child protection and child welfare in Kentucky. As an online student, she was able to apply her coursework to this personal interest. And as a forensic nurse, she could also emphasize this nursing specialty in her courses and key areas of learning.

“Throughout the classes—from the research classes to the health communications classes—the instructors allow students to pick topics that interest them,” Neal says. “You can focus papers and assignments around them, so it creates a more personal learning experience.”

“The ability to customize my assignments to child welfare helps me be a better nurse in my chosen field of interest,” she added.

Neal is excited to move forward in her career with her new degree, and she encourages other nurse who are on the fence to make the jump and enroll. “It’s very doable,” she says. “The classmates are great, the instructors are wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about the program.”

Don’t miss Emily Neal’s interview video about her experience at the University of Louisville and her advice to prospective students seeking their RN-BSN though UofL’s convenient online program.

Learn more about the RN-BSN program here … or explore the many benefits of the online experience on the UofL Online Learning website.