Accelerated BSN enables refreshing job pursuits

07/22/2014 6:02 PM

By Matt Hawkins

Amy Munson ’93 spent two decades building a career in real estate but changed direction after caring for a family member for two years. A number of trips to OSF St. Francis Medical Center and Mayo Clinic led her to shift to nursing, which brought her back to the Hilltop for Bradley’s accelerated BSN.

“I felt that I may have missed my calling,” she said. “Those trips to OSF and Mayo made my decision to change.”

Peoria boasts the state’s largest medical community outside Chicago, which gives students ample opportunities for clinical experience. Students are exposed to nursing’s diverse specialties through time at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Unity Point Methodist and Proctor hospitals, Pekin Hospital, Salvation Army, Tazewell County Health Department and Heddington Oaks skilled care center.

Brittany Rennolett opted for the program in part because of the varied learning environments.

“Every nursing experience is different,” she said. “To experience these different settings will help us be prepared for what we want to do in the future.”

Students also enjoyed the ability to interact with professionals shortly after classes started.

“It’s huge that we get knowledge in a timely manner,” Munson said. “We get to do everything right away and learn by being on the floor.”

Sarah Martin, who originally pursued physical therapy through a human biology degree, found nursing’s compassionate care fit her best.

“It’s satisfying to see people respond to care,” she said. “That’s what I was looking for. These people really appreciate what we’re doing for them.”

As is the case with all students, Martin’s life experience adds a unique dimension to the learning environment. She graduated with a degree in human biology and spent time volunteering after graduation to discern her next step.

“I have a big science base that helps with coursework, but there’s a lot to be said for the clinical experience,” she said. “I’m taking the knowledge in my past and am shining a new light on it.”

The accelerated BSN program, which began in 2010, is designed for students who have degrees in non-nursing fields. Courses begin during the May Interim. Cohorts are capped at eight.