As a nurse in the neurological unit of Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Annie Seidcheck wants to stay at the top of her game.
“For nurses, continuing education is important in order to stay up to date on the most cutting-edge practices,” she says.
Annie’s decision to return to school to complete her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) was based on three critical elements—her desire to advance professionally, a healthy amount of self-motivation, and the right tools to make it happen. And she found what she was looking for in the respected University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing BSN online program offered in the UW Flexible Option format.
Advancing her career with a BSN online
Annie’s career began at Elmbrook Memorial hospital, after she completed her associate degree in nursing through Waukesha County Technical College.
“Many hospitals now are hiring nurses with a bachelor’s or want most of their staff to have the degree.”
In June 2013, she landed a job in the neuroscience unit at Froedtert, where she cares for patients with neurological issues like strokes, seizures, and brain injuries.
“Many hospitals now are hiring nurses with a bachelor’s or want most of their staff to have the degree,” Annie says. “So a BSN would allow me to advance my career.”
While her employer offers tuition reimbursement, the onus is still on the student to decide if they are ready to take on the challenge and commitment involved in returning to school. “You really have to be self-motivated to get classes finished,” she says. “But making time for school was always a priority for me.”
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‘I can do it on my own time’
“I don’t have to be in class at a specific time. Instead, I can do schoolwork on my own time.”
The UW Flexible Option program offers the flexibility and freedom of competency-based education–a format that Annie says creates a successful academic experience. “I don’t have to be in class at a specific time. Instead, I can do schoolwork on my own time.”
Through Flex, Annie was able to find her own perfect work-school rhythm. “At my full-time job, I work seven days in a row, then have seven off. So I usually tackle my schoolwork on my days off.”
Her favorite aspect of the program is that she has the option to complete her education through two paths: a three-month, all-you-can-learn subscription period for a flat rate of $2,250, or a single-competency subscription option for $900. “The all-you-can-learn option allows me to go as fast or as slow as I want through the competency sets,” she says.
Built-in support system
Another aspect of Flex that contributes to Annie’s success is the personalized support she receives from her Academic Success Coach. Having a single person to guide her through the program provides her with a sense of security.
“You have to be motivated, but the great thing about the Flex program is it can work with whatever schedule you have.”
“I am able to ask my coach which classes would be good to take together, so I don’t become overwhelmed,” Annie says. “She’s very helpful in guiding me through the registration process, recommending a learning plan, and much more.”
Another thing that has really helped Annie is the ability to use her existing knowledge and experience to pass assessments and advance through the BSN online program more quickly. “I am able to apply what I’m learning in Flex to the real world, and vice versa. For example, I was able to use my job experience to write a paper about quality improvement and what the process is at the hospital I work in.”
Graduation: just around the corner
Annie is looking forward to graduating with a prestigious BSN online degree from University of Wisconsin in 2015. In the meantime, she says she will continue taking full advantage of the program that fits so well with her demanding schedule, offering this advice to those considering a BSN through Flex:
“You have to be motivated, but the great thing about the Flex program is it can work with whatever schedule you have.”
To find out more about the UW Flexible Option and whether this competency-based education option is a good fit for you, call a friendly enrollment adviser today at 1-877-895-3276.
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