Becky Jenison
Kingsland, Texas
Excelsior College®, Associate of Science in Nursing
After working in healthcare for 34 years, Becky Jenison didn’t need work experience; she wanted her Associate of Science in Nursing degree and RN license.
“I heard of The College Network® and had thought of going back to school, but there were no programs nearby,” said Becky. “I needed to be home to care for my elderly mother, I worked full time, and I needed to keep my stress level down since I have had breast cancer. I had to do distance learning.”
“It was very practical for me to earn my RN license,” said Becky. “Plus it made a big difference in my paycheck!” Becky worked as an LPN at a long-term care facility and finally decided to earn her RN license and nursing degree in order to fill in for the director of nursing during a medical leave.
A widow with grown children, Becky worked full time while earning her degree and license. “Everything I needed was provided,” said Becky. “I loved the Comprehensive Learning Modules because they fit my learning style very well. I couldn’t have asked for better material.”
Becky’s study strategies included using flashcards and studying days at a time. “I studied on weekends—sometimes 16 hours a day,” said Becky. “I would study for three weekends in a row and then take an exam. I went from one exam to the next all the way through. It can be done.”
“The first exam I took, I was a nervous wreck!” said Becky. “I was nauseous and I had a migraine; I just knew I was going to be sick. When I finished and the grade popped up with an ‘A,’ I about fainted. The next test, I didn’t make myself ill!” Becky earned A’s in most classes.
She credits practice test questions for helping prepare her well for exams. “I would study the chapter questions and every time I missed one, I’d look it up and study. Then I’d do the next chapter and those questions. By the time I finished the module, I could ace the exam. The test questions really made a big difference for me.”
Becky first went to college following high school and planned to be an elementary school teacher. In her last year, she had a bad reaction to medicine and spent months recovering. Once better, she decided to pursue nursing instead. “My first job as a nurse was in long-term care,” said Becky. Throughout her career, she also worked in ambulance care, med-surg, and at one point ran an ambulance service with her husband. “I love long-term care. These people are living history.”
Eventually, Becky earned her Bachelor of Arts but didn’t use the degree. “My sister and I went together to finish our degrees in human services,” said Becky. “But I could make more money in nursing—almost double the wages I would have made in counseling.”
Becky recently accepted a new job, as the director of nursing in a long-term care facility, with a big increase in pay.
> Return to Associate Degree in Nursing Success Stories