Karen Burns
Westfield, MA
Excelsior College®, Associate of Science in Nursing

An unexpected life event is what led Karen Burns, customer of The College Network™, to earn her Associate of Science in Nursing Degree through an online program. “I was in a traditional associate program when I had a medical issue happen,” Karen says. “At that time I needed to find a better way to become an RN after missing too much time in school.”

That event along with a passion for learning is what led Karen to enroll in an online nursing degree program. “I am the kind of person who only reads educational material because I love to learn, so I figured what better way to do this than to read material towards my degree,” says Karen.

For her, earning her degree online is a better way than traditional schooling. “It can be scary, but to be honest it was scarier in a classroom setting where there are people of many different ages and personalities.”

Karen feels that the Comprehensive Learning Modules™ are a great tool for studying. “My favorite part about The College Network material is that it’s already broken down for you. It is more straight forward than being in a classroom and having 13 nursing books in which you have to go to different chapters and read hundreds and hundreds of pages. I also like being able to communicate with a person online or on the phone if I have questions. Everyone has been awesome to me—nothing but professional, honest answers and a lot of friendliness,” Karen says.

Because of The College Network, Karen is able to fulfill her dream of earning a degree without interruption to her life. “The College Network has given me the opportunity to continue to work part-time and learn at the same time. I don’t have to get up in the morning and wonder if I’m going to make it to clinicals due to inclement weather or whether I should finish a 25 page Nursing Care Plan or read the material that I need to read for the next test that I need to pass. I am able to learn at my own pace, knowing that I am the one responsible for doing this.”

For Karen, earning her Associate of Science in Nursing degree means taking the next step towards reaching her long-term career goal. “This degree will improve my life because it means I will accomplish a goal of becoming an RN. If I do that, I am closer to the job of becoming a nurse educator someday.”

> Read more Associate Degree in Nursing success stories