“I was not an overachiever as a young adult so if you had told me I would someday be pursuing a graduate degree, I would have thought you were off your rocker. However, I have worked at Beebe Medical Center for the past 16 years and love being a part of this organization. I feel that I have so much more I can offer in a leadership role and thus started to think about returning to school.”

“I credit UD’s School of Nursing recruiter, with helping me start the process of returning to school. She signed me up for my first course, and the rest is history.”

“Online coursework does take a lot of commitment to stay on task and current on the course load and assignments. By now it has become very natural, and a lot of the information I can utilize in real time. Even though the classroom is virtual I have always been made to feel a part of the actual class. The professors are readily available.”

“After some early reluctance in coming back to school, now I feel the opportunities are endless. I am an older or more ‘mature’ student as well as a single parent to a wonderful 9 year old. My son is my biggest supporter and has been wonderful when Mom has to do her homework. I want to be an example for him, and never let him think that he’s unable do something.”

“Health care is an amazing and ever evolving field. I love being a resource and mentor to future nurses as well as being available to assist my peers. I have never regretted my choice to go back to school, and I thank my peers and Beebe family for the support and nudges along the way to keep me going.”

Jennifer Hargreaves is a Clinical Education Specialist at Beebe Medical Center. She is currently pursuing the University of Delaware’s RN-to-MSN graduate online nursing program.