Brittany Buffington
Paradise, TX
Excelsior College®, Associate of Science in Nursing

“Everybody had this master plan in high school, and I had no clue what I wanted to do. I enjoy helping others. Nursing pays well and you get to help a lot of people so I kind of just chose it, not really sure if that’s what I wanted. I started taking pre-reqs for my RN program. Then, in my second year, I decided to apply for the LVN program, just to more or less see if I could get in. Surprisingly, I got a letter in the mail saying I was accepted. So, I went through that. It was tough, but I made it through. I’ve been working for a little over two years now as an LVN. For the most part, I like it. There are good days and bad days, but that’s everything you do,” Brittany Buffington said of her decision to go into nursing.

Finding The College Network® was part of Brittany’s schoolwork, and she’s glad it was. “We actually had an assignment where we looked into the different RN programs, transition from colleges and online programs and the benefits of that. I met with a program advisor, and he went over how it all worked and what you had to have. You definitely had to have self-discipline to do it.  I decided to sign up. Here I am!” she said.

Brittany learns well from the nursing modules. “I think the modules are very straightforward and easy to understand. There are no hidden messages that you have to search for. They’re easy to read. There’s a lot of material but they’re easy to read, so that makes it better. Generally, I just read through the whole module a few chapters a day. I try to do more when I’m not working, and I have the whole day to devote to it. Answer the questions at the end of each chapter. I’ve made note cards that always help me study.  I study those because, like I said, it’s a lot of material. The practice tests on The College Network web site are helpful,” she said.

Being an RN is a good next step for Brittany. “I’ve been an LVN for a little over two years now. You get to see all sorts of stuff and help people in different situations. I would like to further that. The money will increase as an RN, so that’s beneficial,” she said.

Brittany has used The College Network’s EARN program to introduce the system to other nurses and has strong advice for them. “When you refer somebody, you get paid for referring them. The extra money is always good,” she said. “I think people would really enjoy this program because you can do it at your own pace. Again, you have to be disciplined. Make yourself study. It’s really easy to say, ‘Ok, I’ll do that tomorrow’ and put your book down,” she said.

The future looks bright for Brittany. “I’m still undecided what particular area of nursing I like the best. Right now, I’m on med/surg. That’s where I’ve been since I started nursing. I still haven’t found my niche. Hopefully, I’ll figure it out before long,” she said of finding her way in the nursing field.

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