Crystal Agredano
Houston, TX
Excelsior College®, Associate of Science in Nursing
Nursing came naturally to Crystal Agredano. “Since I was little, I’ve always been interested in the healthcare field. When something was going wrong or someone was sick, I was always there trying to see what was going on or what I could do,” she said.
“Originally, I had started for my RN, but then I just went to get my LVN because I wanted to hurry to get out of school and start working in the field,” she said. “As an LVN, you are basically doing the same thing as an RN so you might as well get the pay of an RN for a little more schooling since you’re doing basically the same thing. You have more possibilities as an RN.”
The College Network® found Crystal at the right time. “I was working at a nursing home, and one of The College Network’s reps was giving out information. I held on to the information for a year before I called. My husband actually kept pushing me too. I finally made the decision when the time was right financially. I could see that I just needed to hurry up and do it and stop procrastinating. When we were able to get a little steadier on our feet, that was when I made the decision to go ahead and do it. Being able to do it online or at home was good for me because I still had to work,” she said.
When asked how to start studying and stay motivated, Crystal had a lot of advice. “Mentality plays a big role in it. You just have to have it set in your mind. When I first started, I decided to try to stick to a schedule of testing once a month,” she said.
Crystal’s future goals keep her moving forward. “Right now, I’m in wound care. The fact that I would get my RN degree would open me up to get more certifications, but my heart has always been in the operating room or emergency. I know RNs are needed in the operating room. That’s maybe where I will go after a couple of more years. It just depends on other circumstances, but I’d really like to get my foot in the ER eventually,” she said.
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