By day, Hannah Erotas is a full-time nurse in the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent. She holds two associate degrees: one in nursing from Ivy Tech Community College, and another in paramedic science through IUPUI. At night and on the weekend, she dons her student hat. She’ll complete an online RN to BSN in May 2023.
Choosing IU Online was a no-brainer. “My previous experience with IU was a huge factor in my decision to continue my degree through IU,” says Erotas. “I already knew the quality of their degree programs and felt confident that this quality extended into their online programs.”
Classes advance practical, real-world learning
Erotas notes that everything nurses do must be based on evidence. “My current class on evidence-based nursing couldn’t be more relevant to my work as a nurse,” she says. “We read evidence-based literature on patient care or treatments. The instructors are there to help you navigate that new knowledge, and the class builds upon your critical thinking skills. It's really excellent!”
The most exciting part of the class? Discussion boards. Topics and assignments are based on relevant issues in nursing. One segment was based on Sheri Fink’s book Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital. The book describes a large hospital in New Orleans that was seriously damaged during Hurricane Katrina. “In the discussion board, we discussed how nurses would prepare for future events like Hurricane Katrina or future pandemics. How can we ensure patients receive ethical care during these times? Discussion boards prompt the class to think critically about these issues. The discussion board is a great tool to share ideas and learn from other classmates.”
Diversity enriches class discussions
Discussions boards also create a space for lively interaction. “There’s so much more interaction online—much more than in an in-person class,” Erotas says. Fellow students represent countless backgrounds: they come from different states and countries. Some are recent immigrants to the US. Some are new to the field, while others have 20 years’ experience. “The depth of learning in discussion boards is invaluable. Students bring a great variety of real-world knowledge and experience from different nursing backgrounds such as labor and delivery, ICU, or the ER. This diversity of nursing perspectives provides a unique learning opportunity.”
Communications exceed expectations
Erotas describes her communications with professors as first-rate. Even before the start of class, she could view the whole syllabus, understand professors’ expectations, and block out time for large projects. Her professors were always available to talk about assignments and projects, and even provided their email addresses. “My professors responded to my questions immediately,” she says. “I never had to wait. Their being so available exceeded my expectations.”
Student input keeps the class up-to-the-minute
Most of Erotas’s fellow students are nurses who are working in the field and interacting every day with the healthcare system and patient needs—how they intersect, the challenges healthcare workers face, and how to prepare for the unexpected.
Professors value students’ experience. “Professors want their classes to reflect what we experience at the patient bedside,” says Erotas. “So they continually seek our input. They ask, ‘Is my course material relevant to what you’re seeing in the field?’ This has been especially important since COVID, which was a game-changer in healthcare. We were face-to-face with the unknown.”
Flexibility made it possible
Erotas needed a program she could fit in around her work schedule. “What attracted me to IU Online was the flexibility. I appreciated that the program was self-guided. I had the freedom and autonomy to work on my own time,” she says. “At first I felt a bit overwhelmed, but all it took was being self-motivated and managing my time well,” she says.
Moving ahead with IU Online
Erotas’s goal is to become a nurse practitioner. She’s applying to the family nurse practitioner program through IUPUI. The master’s degree program incorporates the online learning platform used in the RN to BSN program. “My time here has been so rewarding. IU Online is a great place for learning. It offered excellent, high-quality education at a fair price,” she says. “I’m blessed to have had the opportunities this program offered.”
