Connecting Students through Technology
By Alli Benjamin, WSU College of Nursing
Balancing work, family life, and other commitments is common for nurses going back to school. For Onalaska, Washington resident Katy Dunning, a married, 31-year-old mother of two and registered nurse (RN), it is her new reality. Thanks to the online/distance learning option offered to RNs by the WSU College of Nursing, Dunning will graduate in May 2012 with her Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree.
Dunning has always known that she wanted to become a nurse. "So many nurses have made a difference in my life," she said. "I wanted to have a profession where I could live anywhere and be able to find work."
Dunning has been a nurse for more than 10 years and wanted to earn her BSN so that she could be better prepared.
"Health care is complex and changing. Continuing education is essential for nurses so that we can meet the needs of our patients," Dunning said. "I chose WSU because of its quality of curriculum and faculty. My advisor, Mary Stucky, provided me with sound advice and understood my situation. She knows me."
The distance learning program was a convenient option for Dunning. She lives in a small town of 3,200 people that's 73 miles from WSU Vancouver's campus.
"I was scared of the online program at first because I didn't know if it would work for me," she said. "I was originally planning on driving to Vancouver. I'm glad I didn't because the online program has allowed me to earn my degree while not interrupting my life."
The distance learning program allows students like Dunning to take one class at a time or a full course load. Distance students log in to live or archived course video streams. Students have the ability to participate in live discussions with other campuses. Distance learning students can interact with on-site students through online discussion boards.
"It works with my schedule," Dunning said. "Since the lectures are archived, I can fit in little snippets when I have time. I can do laundry and listen or pause it if I need to."
Even without high-speed Internet, Katy discovered it was possible to listen to lectures. "I contacted the WSU IT department because I was having a hard time watching the lectures-the videos kept failing," Dunning said. "The IT department suggested putting the lectures into mp3 format so I could listen instead. Talk about accommodating!"
Students can complete their clinical courses at sites close to home and Dunning will complete hers this summer at Providence Centralia Hospice. She is even considering applying for the college's Master of Nursing Program. "I have contemplated becoming a nurse practitioner, but for right now, a BSN from Washington State University is reputable and will make me competitive so I can achieve my career goals," said Dunning.
By Alli Benjamin, WSU College of Nursing
Balancing work, family life, and other commitments is common for nurses going back to school. For Onalaska, Washington resident Katy Dunning, a married, 31-year-old mother of two and registered nurse (RN), it is her new reality. Thanks to the online/distance learning option offered to RNs by the WSU College of Nursing, Dunning will graduate in May 2012 with her Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree.
Dunning has always known that she wanted to become a nurse. "So many nurses have made a difference in my life," she said. "I wanted to have a profession where I could live anywhere and be able to find work."
Dunning has been a nurse for more than 10 years and wanted to earn her BSN so that she could be better prepared.
"Health care is complex and changing. Continuing education is essential for nurses so that we can meet the needs of our patients," Dunning said. "I chose WSU because of its quality of curriculum and faculty. My advisor, Mary Stucky, provided me with sound advice and understood my situation. She knows me."
The distance learning program was a convenient option for Dunning. She lives in a small town of 3,200 people that's 73 miles from WSU Vancouver's campus.
"I was scared of the online program at first because I didn't know if it would work for me," she said. "I was originally planning on driving to Vancouver. I'm glad I didn't because the online program has allowed me to earn my degree while not interrupting my life."
The distance learning program allows students like Dunning to take one class at a time or a full course load. Distance students log in to live or archived course video streams. Students have the ability to participate in live discussions with other campuses. Distance learning students can interact with on-site students through online discussion boards.
"It works with my schedule," Dunning said. "Since the lectures are archived, I can fit in little snippets when I have time. I can do laundry and listen or pause it if I need to."
Even without high-speed Internet, Katy discovered it was possible to listen to lectures. "I contacted the WSU IT department because I was having a hard time watching the lectures-the videos kept failing," Dunning said. "The IT department suggested putting the lectures into mp3 format so I could listen instead. Talk about accommodating!"
Students can complete their clinical courses at sites close to home and Dunning will complete hers this summer at Providence Centralia Hospice. She is even considering applying for the college's Master of Nursing Program. "I have contemplated becoming a nurse practitioner, but for right now, a BSN from Washington State University is reputable and will make me competitive so I can achieve my career goals," said Dunning.