Meet Our Students

I came to Elms College in 2023 for the RN to BSN program after earning my associate’s degree in nursing from Mount Wachusett Community College. I chose Elms because of the great reviews I received from friends and coworkers who went here. They told me about the school and their experiences, the curriculum, and the faculty. l also did my research by checking the school website and from all that, I decided to enroll in Elms.

My expectations are exactly what l experienced at Elms College. I take all of my classes online. The faculty is always available for help through email and Zoom meetings. I’ve found that the online courses are convenient for my life and work schedule.

Dr. Emily Cabrera, the program director has always been my go-to person whenever I need something. She always says to me “I’m here to help.”  Every time I have reached out to her, she has been there for me. She listens to my problems patiently and always comes up with a solution. I am so grateful to have such a person as my director of nursing in the RN-BSN program.

I am really pleased to have attended Elms. I have gained a lot of skills and experience in nursing in the short time I have been here. It has prepared me for the next step in my nursing career. In my career path, I want to be a nurse practitioner. That is why I decided to go back to school again after 14 years.

Worcester, Ma.
RN to BSN Program

Worcester, Ma.
RN to BSN program, Class of 2024
Enrolled in Master of Nursing program
Works at Amedisys Home Health Care

Growing up, no one in my immediate family had a college degree.  I challenged myself to break that cycle and to move higher up the educational ladder. I’ve always wanted to be able to control my scheduling and work hours, and believe that with a higher degree, you earn that flexibility. It is my goal to go into management and I am working my way there. 

Initially, I had about three nursing schools in mind, but I chose Elms because they have a collaboration with my former school, Quinsigamond Community College, and transferring my credits was easier and much less of a headache compared to if I chose one of the other schools.

At Elms, the faculty is awesome and they challenge you to think critically through your work. The coursework requires a lot of discipline but by taking classes remotely, I can still balance school with my job and being a single mom to children between the ages of 5 and 8. It can be tough juggling school, work, and family, and Elms provides an environment that is very convenient for me for all three roles and still be successful.

Dr. Emily Cabrera, the director of the BSN and MSN programs is awesome. She also is my advisor and I love her personality. She is welcoming and always willing to assist. She makes time out of working hours to listen to your concerns and assist in finding solutions. She is a real deal with adult education and understands the true meaning of work-life-family balance. I know a big part of my success is from my hard work but her encouragement played a huge role.

I am very pleased to have chosen Elms College. It is one of the great continuing education schools that truly pushes you toward your goal. I love the smaller class sizes, which help you get as much attention from the faculty as you need to thrive.  

Even after 25 years as a practicing nurse, Ellen Beckwith still feels the urge to flip the script on occasion. The Lee, MA, local says that she was initially hesitant to pursue her bachelor of science (BS) degree, but after seeing several colleagues go through the RN-BS program at Elms, she worked up the courage to enroll herself. Ellen’s leap of faith ties back to her conviction that nursing is a profession that requires its practitioners to constantly strive for more.

“It took me 23 years to decide to go back because I didn’t really understand what the benefit would be,” she said. “For anybody who is debating going back, they really need to do it. Nursing is advancing as a profession, and we need to keep growing with it.”

Ellen explained that she chose the Elms RN-BS program not only because she is an alumna, but also because Berkshire Health Systems supports the program. As a charge nurse on the medical-surgical floor at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, MA, Ellen found it convenient to have class once per week for six and a half hours at one of her employer’s satellite campuses.

This type of continuing education is a win-win for nurses wanting to expand their skills. “Nursing itself is changing so much — I think we all need to be responsible for ourselves, and we need to stay educated and competent and knowledgeable,” she said. “I’ve gotten so much out of the program. I now see the wider view of the nursing profession and what more is out there for us.”

The RN-BS curriculum also pushes students to reconsider foundational concepts in nursing and examine them from new perspectives. In her statistics class, Ellen said that her instructor covered how to read and interpret journal articles, an invaluable refresher for nurses of any level. Her genetics and genomics class also made an indelible impression on her.

While she is perfectly content at Fairview Hospital, Ellen appreciates the confidence that the RN-BS program has instilled in her. “The program is opening other doors, too,” she said, “so if I decide I want to go into another position or do something in leadership, I have those opportunities now.”

Enrollment from Overseas

Applying to college can be a stressful experience, even for the most ambitious students — but can you imagine going through the process while serving in Afghanistan as a combat medic for the U.S. Army?

For Jessie Chenier ’17, enrolling in the RN-BS program at Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) involved jumping through some very international hoops.

“Sonia Patota, the off-campus program coordinator at MWCC, was super helpful while I was overseas,” Jessie said. “I was trying to have my friends from home fax paperwork over to her because my access wasn’t that good. She was so patient and helpful.”

As part of her training with the Army, Jessie earned her emergency medical technician (EMT) license. She also became an expert on how to respond to disaster scenarios. Her deployment to Afghanistan left a lasting impression on her, one that she hopes to put into practice as the new director of health services at Elms College.

“The military prepared me for emergency response and safety precautions here on campus, both for the students and the rest of my staff,” the Dudley, MA, resident said. “I’ve already worked with Public Safety on disaster preparedness.”

Making the Move to RN-BS

When Jessie returned home from overseas, she started her journey in the Elms RN-BS program, taking classes on the MWCC campus every week. She also continued to build her expertise as a nurse, working part time in the health center at Elms. The flexibility of the RN-BS program made all the difference to her.

“It’s flexible, so I could still work part time. A lot of the girls in my cohort worked full time,” she said. “Considering all of the satellite campuses now, you can have your pick of where you want to go.”

Like many nurses who choose to advance their career by earning their bachelor of science (B.S.) degree, Jessie carefully weighed how her newfound academic schedule would impact her time with family.

“It’s completely doable for somebody who’s trying to do something else with their life, like work or have a family,” she said. “Mount Wachusett is my hometown area, and I was able to see my nana every Friday while still being able to go to class.”

Health in the 21st Century

As she begins her tenure as the director of health services at Elms, Jessie has big plans for leading the health center into the future. Whether she’s bringing digital technology into the center’s operations or researching population health issues, students still come first for her.

“My number one priority is the students,” she said. “I have a lot more on my plate now, but students still come first.”

“I’m hoping that we can still take care of students in the capacity we have been, if not better,” she added.

For nurses considering going back to school for their B.S. degree, Jessie highly recommends the Elms/MWCC RN-BS program.

“Don’t doubt yourself. A lot of people can come up with any excuse not to instill a change in their lives,” she said. “If you can break that cycle and apply to the RN-BS program, you can still live your life the way you’re living it, and further your education, too.”