Emily Stewart
"All the while going to school full-time, working as a nurse, and raising a family. I achieved my goal."
Q: "Tell us about yourself: your family, friends, interests, and hobbies."
A: "My husband and I are raising our 3 children in Vermont. Our oldest, Andrew (15), and Middle, Austin (13), both wrestle; they keep us pretty busy with that! Our youngest, Chloe (5), loves to be outside playing and going to gymnastics. We spend what free time we have camping and exploring different places to camp. I have worked as an LNA for 15 years before going back to school to obtain my LPN, and then my ADN, and now my BSN."
Q: "Describe your professional background prior to enrolling, what motivated you to pursue this degree, and your long-term career goals."
A: "I have always known that I was going to be a nurse; I just never knew when that would happen. I was an LNA for 15 years before I got the push to finally go back to school. I went to VTSU in Randolph, graduated with my LPN, and was lucky enough to get into direct progression to my ADN year. All the while going to school full-time, working as a nurse, and raising a family. I achieved my goal. Since CVMC is partnered with Norwich, I figured, why not? Let's continue and get my BSN."
Q: "How have you applied what you learned in your role, and how has this degree impacted your career growth or direction?"
A: "Working as a bedside registered nurse, the day-to-day change in my role will be minimal. However, completing my BSN will allow me to apply for a pay increase once I finish my degree and a few additional certifications."
Q: "What will stay with you most from your Norwich experience, and what advice would you give to prospective students?"
A: "Nursing school is hard. Clinical is hard. The experience is what you make it. If you ask to see things at the clinic, the nurses will show you."
Q: "Why did you choose Norwich University Online? What influenced your decision to pursue an online program, and which aspects of the online learning experience proved most beneficial to you?"
A: "CVMC is partnered with Norwich, which was the push for me to come here. I enjoy online learning since I can do it around my schedule. I have pretty good time management skills and can look ahead for the week and make sure I get everything done when I have time."
Q: "What were your expectations before starting the program? How did your experience compare, and what aspects stood out most to you?"
A: "I did not have many expectations before starting the program. It was on a different platform than what I was used to, I knew I would need to learn the new platform. Nursing school at any level is difficult, but the experience is what you make of it."
