Members of the BSNExpress Class of 2007 tell you why they chose Villanova

Julia Pray
BA in Spanish
Perkasie, PA

“I chose to look into Villanova because the nursing program has such a good reputation and once I began speaking with some of the staff I chose to come to Villanova because of their helpfulness and interest in the students and their lives. Also, Villanova has a worldly view on nursing, it's not just focused on the United States, but on the world as a whole.”

Adena Siderer
BA in Liberal Arts
Philadelphia, PA

“I chose Villanova to pursue my nursing career for a number of reasons. First, Villanova has an excellent reputation and high academic standards, something which was very important to me in my educational pursuit. Additionally, I especially liked the small and warm feeling of the program. The faculty members take the time to get to know each student and personally care for the success of every individual. But what won me over was Villanova sensitivity to my
religious observance…The ease with which they dealt with my religious needs exceeded my expectations. From the very beginning Villanova welcomed me with open arms and made me feel very at home.”

Aileen Rueter
BS in Marketing
Philadelphia, PA

“The resources that Villanova has available to their students…the lab is superior to other schools, the access to the best teaching hospitals in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas…the location of the school campus and the safety and comfort that I feel while there. The outstanding professors are overwhelmingly attentive, remarkably accomplished and the endless list of accolades that each teacher possesses is the most attractive feature of Villanova. I cannot compliment the teachers and staff enough at Villanova. In addition, the students who attend Villanova create and educational environment that is pleasant and conducive to learning…I am confident that my Villanova foundation will provide me with an extra advantage over other nurses.”

Kallie Sealock
BS in Kinesiology
San Luis Obispo, CA

“As the ‘California exchange student’ I'm often asked why I decided to come all the way to Pennsylvania to go to nursing school. I loved the idea of doing something new and different and Philadelphia, with its huge medical research community, seemed to be a great place to start. I was looking at a number of schools in the city when Villanova was suggested to me. A friend of mine from my undergrad had an old roommate who was in the BSNExpress program and was loving it. It didn't take long to discover that it would be a great fit for me as well. Everyone I talked to within the College of Nursing was helpful and personal, the campus was beautiful, and the program well-established and respected by students and hospitals alike. Tuition also proved to be lower than a number of the other accelerated options I had found. I haven't once regretted my decision to come to ‘Nova. I love the faculty and my fellow BSNExpressers and would highly recommend the program to anyone looking to get into nursing.”
 

Liz Frace
BS in Health Education and Behavior
Boca Raton, FL

"Villanova's exceptional reputation for its College of Nursing was a major factor in initially looking into the BSNExpress Program. After meeting with the faculty and learning more about this program there was no doubt in my mind that Villanova was the place for me. The program is one of the most highly regarded of its kind and even though it is only 14 months, the students have the same amount of classroom and clinical hours as the traditional 4-year students. Other than the high quality of the curriculum itself, the advisors and faculty are what really set Villanova above the rest. Passion for nursing floods the halls, and every professor I had has not only been highly qualified with vast knowledge and experience to share but has also had a genuinely caring attitude toward their students. It is clear that they are here to be both teachers and mentors and their dedication to teaching and nursing is inspiring. The faculty's commitment to their students' success is extraordinary. Although challenging, the professors truly wish for the students to learn, to ask questions and to become just as passionate about nursing as they are. It worked--I couldn't be happier with my choice of Villanova or the profession of nursing."
 

Laura Wilkins
BA in Advertising and PR
Plymouth Meeting, PA

“Switching career paths was a huge decision. After researching schools, I found that Villanova offered an exceptional nursing program designed for second degree students. It was important to me that I received an education that would prepare me for my new career. The nursing professors are extremely knowledgeable and have successful nursing careers. The Villanova program also utilizes the top hospitals in the surrounding Philadelphia area for clinical rotations. Along with a beautiful campus in the suburbs of Philadelphia, it created an ideal situation. Villanova made my huge decision an easy one!”
 

Angie Gauby
BS in Business & Health Care Administration,
MS in Information Science
Douglasville, PA

“I learned about the Villanova BSNExpress program through a good nurse-friend of mine who was in the first class. I chose Villanova's program because it gave me the opportunity to be involved with adult students who also had degrees in other fields. I most importantly chose the nursing program because I knew I would receive a high quality nursing education. Villanova nursing graduates are definitely tops in the area hospitals!”

 

Julie Lassig
BS in Health and Wellness
Doylestown, PA

“Going back to school for my nursing degree was an idea that I toyed with for many years. I was looking for an accredited BSN program for second degree students that was fast track but reasonably paced. I wanted to get through quickly but also wanted to keep my sanity in the process! I wanted a program that had clinical affiliations with flagship hospitals to experience the newest technology in a positive, student friendly environment. Faculty is the most important aspect of any program. I knew I would be older than most of my other comrades so I was interested in finding teachers who would be supportive, respectful, knowledgeable, and credible. When I attended the Open House at Villanova, I sensed there was something different about this University - something special. The event was very well organized with staff welcoming potential students.

Another advantage of the Villanova program is that the clinical rotations corresponded with class topics, which is not always the case with other schools. The program is challenging but not impossible. The faculty is incredibly supportive. My clinical rotations have been terrific learning experiences and very rewarding. I have been especially impressed with my clinical instructors. They are some of the best teachers I have had the privilege of working with. My fellow comrades in the BSN Express are a very cohesive and supportive group as well. I have made some great friends and look forward to sharing experiences in the future."

 

Julie Dalby
BA in English and Communications
Wayne, PA

“Choosing nursing as a second career was not a difficult decision. Juggling how I was going to get back into school, with two young children at home, and a husband that was often not – became the tougher challenge! I am thrilled to have utilized all of the resources available to me to begin the BSNExpress program at Villanova. This accelerated program is quite intense. It demands a great deal of your time and energy in the classroom, at clinical rotations, and then even more hours outside of the hospital and school. But it is well worth your efforts!

The nursing staff is at the top of their game. They are always there when you need them, for anything. They truly want their students to succeed. They are the heart of this excellent program. I have never looked back… I know I chose the right path, and I am so excited about my challenging new adventure in nursing!"
 

Teacher Turns to Nursing Career

Electing to drastically change professional careers is a dream that many people contemplate but only a small percentage take action and pursue. Students enrolled in the College of Nursing’s BSNExpress program are exactly those individuals who take the risk to leave their established careers, return to college to pursue a second degree and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Stephanie Beamer of Glenside worked as middle/high school teacher in a special program for pregnant teens and new mothers. With an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Messiah College Stephanie taught math, science and health to the young moms and moms to be. While finishing up on her undergraduate degree Stephanie began to consider a future career in nursing.

Stephanie is a member of the first class of the BSNExpress program which graduated a total of 23 students in August 2004. Maryanne Lieb, MSN, RN, the coordinator of the program describes the first graduating class as “cohesive and supportive to each other. As adult learners they bring a great deal of personal experience to the learning environment which facilitates their learning and makes the sum much greater than the parts.” Although each student arrived with very different education and skills Stephanie describes the transition as not so difficult. “I was already learning new material in my job teaching math and science so I count myself blessed in that my brain was used to being challenged with new information even before the start of the program. The most difficult part was the amount of required time for studying and preparing for class.” Prof. Lieb described the class as being very close which was evident not only by their study groups but also by their celebration of classmates’ birthdays. This supportive network contributed to the success of the first graduating class.

While many students had extensive experience as a student in the classroom, clinical nursing work was a whole new world for many of the students. Stephanie was able to experience the impact of pregnancy on a woman’s life from a different perspective when she participated in a newborn delivery during a clinical experience. “The most incredible clinical experience for me was watching a birth. Only I wasn’t just watching. I stepped in to support the patients’ legs while the nurse stepped out of the room and stayed in that position until the baby was born. It was miraculous! The doctor turned the baby’s face toward me as he delivered the rest of his body and when the baby opened his eyes I was the first person he saw. It was an amazing experience!

The pursuit of further learning did not end for Stephanie after graduating with a BSN. She is now enrolled in a MSN in women’s health nursing with plans to become a nurse practitioner and work in rural Pennsylvania. Stephanie remarked “I might even consider obtaining a midwife certificate at some point and provide care for home births for the Amish residing in rural Pennsylvania. Perhaps I’ll get my doctorate from Villanova and teach again. The great thing about nursing is that the opportunities are endless!”