Ebony Bailey, a mother of five from Memphis, Tennessee, is at the beginning of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at American National University, stepping into a field she says has felt like a lifelong calling. She shares that nursing was something she first imagined pursuing as a child, with a long-standing interest in pediatrics and pediatric oncology, though she spent years exploring other academic paths while trying to find where she truly belonged. A recent and difficult hospitalization following a personal health setback became a turning point for her, as the care and compassion she received from nurses left a lasting impression and inspired her to ask questions about the profession while still in the hospital. That experience, along with a step into medical assistant training to test the waters of healthcare, ultimately reaffirmed her decision that nursing was not just an interest, but the path she was meant to follow. Her dedication to her craft earned her the title of Term Trailblazer for Term 260!

Ebony got her start in the medical field by becoming a certified medical assistant. Earning that education inspired her to join American National University’s BSN program to fulfill the dreams she’s had since she was a young girl. “That just gave me the extra push to go ahead and do nursing,” she explains. During her tenure in the hospital is when Ebony found us for her education. “I know I have kids, so my biggest thing was finding a place that would work around my schedule. I know I need a job, and I know that I needed something that was flexible,” she recounts about her motivation to joining our program.

“And [American National University] is most definitely flexible! I love the fact that [they] have night classes, because my mornings are always tied up with my children… To be honest, that probably was my number one, top choice on why I chose [American National University].”

Despite only being in her third term of her education, Ebony has found great success in her classes. She not only utilizes her previous medical assisting and phlebotomy experience to get through her anatomy classes, but her professors are all well-versed in what they do. “The teachers are very knowledgeable,” she says, “I feel like if I can ask my teacher a question and they’re able to answer it, that’s big for me. Because a lot of schools I went to I feel like I was teaching myself. I can read a book, but I need somebody to explain it to me, not in the book way, but [their] way.”

Some of the professors that have already made an impact on Ebony are Dr. Carlos da Silva, Tina Ousley, Dr. Michelle Ginn. “I love Dr. Ginn’s classes, all of her classes are awesome!” She exclaims.

So far, in her education, she appreciates the time she has available to her. “I like the fact that I actually have time to work on my schoolwork! Most of our schoolwork opens on Sundays, that gives me time because Sunday is usually my downtime, anyway. I use my Sundays to actually get ahead,” she explains. “I really like that they put things in Canvas early so if I’m done with week three notes, I can move onto week four if I want to!”

Her future goals once included working in pediatric oncology because of advertisements she used to see growing up. However, now she hopes that within the next ten years, she can work in cancer research. “I love to research, I love to read, I love to use the microscope,” she said. This is inspired by both the loss of her mother to breast cancer, and her close friend being diagnosed with lung cancer. She also recalls making a promise to a little girl that she would “make a difference someway, somehow.”

Would she recommend the university to anyone else looking to earn their higher education? “Yes I would! Actually, I already have!”

“I just feel like [American National University] is the perfect school for any parent or adult learner who’s not really into going to a big class… I’ve never seen a school so flexible a day in my life, and I have been to a lot of schools!”

Ebony’s advice to new students at the university would be “do not wait until the last minute!” She recommends making a schedule and utilizing the classwork and assignments as soon as they are open on Canvas. “Even though you’re in nursing school, still make time for yourself! Mental health is very important. You do not want to get burnt out already while you’re in school – you aren’t even in the field yet!” Her favorite way to motivate herself is to reward herself with tacos at the end of a week when she meets all of her goals.

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This venture into online nursing programs only boosts ANU’s High Tech, High Touch approach to education. ANU provides students with lab equipment and an Oculus Quest 2 All-in-One VR Headset with 256 GB of memory.  Students are sent lab equipment to their homes to replicate experiences students would have at physical campuses. These tools provide students with the hands-on experience they need to learn nursing skills and concepts – all from the comfort of their home! And with clinical partnership sites across the country for externships, students will get the opportunity to put those skills to test in the work force. Along with this, there are no hidden fees. Our tuition is $332 per credit hour with all equipment and textbooks included in that price, and your first NCLEX test attempt is on ANU!

This online bachelor’s of nursing program utilizes UbiSim virtual reality software. This technology allows faculty to customize scenarios in hospital settings so that students learn as they would in actual clinical settings and gain a much deeper understanding than what a textbook could provide. Instructors are able to lead students through any scenario they will face in their nursing career – from taking vitals, administering medicine, bedside manner, and speaking with a patient’s family, among many other skills. The program also does not operate on point-and-click mechanisms, but real-life hand gestures to provide active learning. Every interaction that students perform in these VR scenarios provides them with the experience they need to make their nursing career a reality. Additionally, following these virtual reality classroom experiences, students will participate in clinicals at physical locations, like physician offices, hospitals, and other medical sites.

Along with this, American National University’s Callista School of Nursing proudly bears the name of Sister Callista Roy, a renowned figure in the field of nursing. This esteemed choice is rooted in Sister Callista Roy’s groundbreaking Theory of Adaptation, encapsulated within the Roy Adaptation Model. Our commitment to her legacy is a testament to ANU’s dedication to providing the scholarly excellence, holistic education, and the enduring principles that underpin the field of nursing to our students.

“The decision to name the school after Sister Callista Roy underscores the institution’s commitment to imbuing nursing education with a profound scholarly underpinning,” says ANU Senior Executive Vice President of Operations, Dr. Joel Musgrove, explains. “By embracing the Roy Adaptation Model, nursing students are equipped with a sophisticated toolset to comprehend, maneuver, and adapt to the multifaceted challenges inherent in their educational journey.”

With Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) accreditation and approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing, students will gain an interactive education to prepare them for the workforce. The future of nursing programs is here and available for ANU students in Tennessee. ANU does online differently. Students receive face-to-face and hands-on education from anywhere they have internet access. To learn more about ANU’s over 130-year history of educating men and women and implementing this history in our innovative eUniversity, go to an.edu/elearning. To learn more about how you can join the next class of nursing students attending online, go to https://an.edu/programs/bachelors-degrees/online-bachelor-of-science-in-nursing/.

American National University – Be live, in class, from anywhere.

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