Master of Science in Nursing Online

Hi. My name is Celena Shivers and I’m earning my degree in Psychiatric Mental Health nurse practitioner.

My name is Debbie Askey and I am getting my degree in Psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Hi, my name is Junah Castil. I am on Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program in Maryville University.

Whenever I had asked some other nurse practitioners what to look for in a school, they just said, “Be sure and pick one that’s a brick and mortar school. Not just like strictly online. Pick something that people have heard of. So when you apply for jobs that it means something, whenever they see that on your resume.” The main thing is just take it one day at a time because if you look ahead at all the modules, and all the assignments, and all the exams, it gets very overwhelming. But if you just think, “Ok this week and this day, I have to get this much done and tomorrow I have to do this,” and just kind of like pointed out along with what else you have going on with your job or with your family, it becomes a lot more manageable so I’m really excited. I feel like I’m 41, but the future is promising.

So don’t wait too long because it’s never going to be a perfect time. I think anybody who have their mind set that I want to do it, just step out and do it. Even if it’s applying and saying, “I’m just going to apply and just see what happens.” When you get that welcome email from Maryville University, you know that you know what I got to go ahead and do it. So don’t wait. Just go ahead and do it. And, you can do it.

I like the history. It’s been here for over 150 years now. I like the fact that there was an actual place you could go to. It was an actual university, and I didn’t want to like one of those cookie cutter degrees. The instructors are very helpful. Like, I was struggling a little bit with the psychopharmacology, and my instructor at the time did reach out. We went over some things, he gave me some tips and I passed the course. Also, when I first started I had, it’d been 25 years since I’d been in school. So the computers and the writing, I had to kind of learn that all over again. My instructor kind of ported me towards the writing studio and that was really helpful.

If you really want it, then there’s always a way to do it. It’s just that you have to ask. Maryville, in particular, are very helpful. The advisors are really helpful. They can walk you through. It’s just that you need to get in touch with them, communicate with them what is not clear with you or is there any problem because they have a way to help you out. So, if you have a dream, then just push it through. There would be challenges, but there are answers as well. I’ve been a nurse for 15 years in ICU and I wanted a step forward, a more advanced role and this is actually how I did it. So finally there was help. Maryville, and the staff, advisors, and everyone they helped me fulfill my dream.