Florida Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing Degree Graduate Reviews Remington College BSN Program
True to her nature, when Remington College of Nursing alum Rachel Canady was looking for a nursing school, she did her homework. Rachel researched several schools but, she said, “Luckily, I found Remington College in my own backyard!”
Leveraging Experience and Preparing for the Next Step: Florida Nursing School
Rachel was raised in Central Florida and moved to Orlando after graduating from the University of Florida with her first bachelor’s degree. She already had a strong science background, with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and 10 years of experience working in the fitness/wellness field.
Before attending our nursing college in Lake Mary, Rachel worked in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, which included EKG-monitored exercise and extensive education on nutrition, stress management, and prevention of heart disease. Her work with a team of cardiac nurses taught her how to “think like a nurse,” and they encouraged and supported her in her decision to attend nursing school.
Taking the Challenge, Making New Connections in the Florida Nursing Community
Our full-time, accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program consists of up to five days a week of classroom time, 12-hour clinical days (both daytime and overnight), and demanding assignments and testing. “Choosing to leave a rewarding and well-paying career and commit to an intensive, 12-month accelerated nursing program was quite a challenge in itself,” said Rachel. “Working is not a realistic option while you’re enrolled in the program,” she added.
Fortunately, Rachel had the support of her family, her fiancé, and the classmates with whom she became very close. “I know that my experience at Remington College will play a role in future successes. I was lucky enough to have experienced nursing instructors who prepared me for a career in nursing. Any success I have will be attributed to their clinical teaching skills, advisement, and mentoring,” she said, adding, “I’ve also had the opportunity to network as a Remington College student, and I’ve developed many valuable and meaningful relationships, both professional and personal.”
Seeing Her Hard Work in Nursing School Pay Off
Rachel excelled during our intensive program and was part of Remington College of Nursing’s class of January 2011, graduating with a GPA of 3.86. If that’s not impressive enough, Rachel also served as Nursing Student Association president while keeping up with her studies and clinical experiences, all of which made her a deserving recipient of the school’s Excellence in Leadership award.
Looking to the Future as a Registered Nurse
Rachel is currently preparing for graduate school so that she can hopefully move into the field as a nurse practitioner. “I feel confident that the rigorous demands of the accelerated BSN program trained me in time management, nursing study skills, and stress management. I also appreciate the support of students, faculty, and staff in my role as president of the Nursing Student Association. My goal was to increase community awareness of our new program and increase student involvement in local service projects, and with the generosity and support of my classmates and our school, we were able to meet those goals.”
Reflecting on her accomplishments and future plans, Rachel noted, “Completing my second bachelor’s degree, my BSN, is the biggest and most noteworthy change in my life. My success at Remington has opened my eyes to the wonderful Central Florida community that we live in; I am motivated to stay involved with community service and volunteer projects that I was a part of while at Remington.”
As for what she has learned about herself that may also help current and future nursing students, Rachel said, “I’ve learned that, above anything else, a positive attitude is the single most important tool to have in facing a challenge or difficult task. People respond well and naturally migrate toward positivity. I’ve also learned to be more confident in my decisions. Taking a leap of faith and changing careers is not quite as scary if you are self-assured and aware that, as long as you are willing to work hard and commit to taking responsibility for everything you choose to do, anything really is possible.”