How Jessica Glenn Advanced Her Nursing Career Online

By the time Jessica Glenn decided to pursue nursing, she already knew what it meant to care for people.

She is a mother and spent 12 years as a medical assistant working with patients across specialties including primary care, cardiology, pediatrics, and more. On top of this, she was also preparing to become a grandmother.

Still, Jessica knew she was capable of more.

When she began looking into leadership opportunities, she realized her next step would require going back to school and earning a new credential. So, she did just that.

Jessica earned her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at ECPI University’s Charlotte campus, then continued immediately into the registered nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) online program. But she didn’t stop there. Jessica is now working toward her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as an ECPI Family Nurse Practitioner online student.

What started as a decision to go back to school began Jessica’s journey toward greater responsibility, leadership, and impact in nursing.

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What made you decide to become a nurse?

Jessica: A moment that I realized I wanted to do more was when I was working in urgent care as a medical assistant. Someone came in and said there was a woman outside who looking like she needed help. I ran out to her car with a wheelchair. She was sweating profusely, disoriented, and clearly in distress. We brought her in, put her on an EKG, gave her oxygen, and realized she was having a STEMI, which is an emergency cardiac event.

That was when I realized I had good knowledge and instincts, and I wanted to use it at a higher level. When I talked with one of my managers about wanting to move up, she told me I would have to become a nurse to move into leadership in that environment. That is when I started looking into nursing school.

Why did you choose ECPI University?

Jessica: I chose ECPI University for convenience, speed, and support. Some other schools I looked at told me I might have to wait a year, and I didn’t have a year to wait.

When I spoke with an advisor at ECPI University, I told her about my background and where I wanted to go with my career and education. She walked me through the whole process and told me that classes started in a couple of weeks.

The other thing that stood out was the emphasis on hands-on learning. I need to put my hands on something to remember it and do it. So, when I saw the classrooms, the labs, and the technology, I thought, “This is for me. Sign me up!”

Was it important for you to have an accelerated program?

Jessica: The accelerated pace was very important to me. When I had previously thought about going to nursing school, my daughter was still in high school. I understood the commitment nursing school would take, so I waited until she graduated. Once she graduated, I felt ready. But I didn’t have time to waste. I was ready to help people and advance my education and career.

How did you balance online nursing school with your personal life?

Jessica: The online program is very different. It’s still fast paced, but you have to be disciplined because nobody is physically there making sure you are doing the work. At the same time, the program still included hands-on components with head-to-toe assessments with a live person while your instructor critiqued the interaction.

That discipline carried over into how I managed everything outside of school too. Something you learn in nursing school is prioritization. If something isn’t important, it gets pushed to the back. My education was important. My family was important. Going into my second year of school, my grandson was coming and that was important too.

I had to stay focused on my education and create a better life for myself. I knew that if I could obtain the education I needed to get on this new career path, the things I had to push to the back would eventually come to the forefront again.

Was it hard? Yes. But was it worth it? Absolutely. If I had to do it all over again, I would.

What does your current role look like?

Jessica: I’m a med-surg nurse at the hospital and the interim Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) at a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

On the weekends, I work med-surg at the hospital, where I see many of the disease processes I studied at ECPI. So much of what I learned in the classroom has carried over directly to the med-surg floor.

As the interim ADON, my day starts with a Stand Up meeting with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and the dietician and scheduling, nurse supervisors, maintenance, and others. We discuss the previous 24 hours and any issues that need to be addressed.

After that, I’m responsible for making sure any issues are resolved and information is communicated across departments. I’m also involved in hiring and interviews, disciplinary actions, and staff education.

After nursing school, did you feel prepared to be a nurse?

Jessica: Absolutely. When I first started on the med-surg floor, my preceptors called me “Easy Money” because they thought I had already been a nurse somewhere else. They later realized I was a new grad.

Within my first week, I managed five patients, and the maximum was six. My preceptors were there if I needed them, but they didn’t have to do much.

What’s next for you?

Jessica: I’m working toward becoming a nurse practitioner. I recently received my white coat in the mail, and it said “ECPI Family Nurse Practitioner Student.” I put it on and smiled.

In the future, I want to open a concierge healthcare business where I can go into people’s homes, provide care, do assessments and physicals, and make care easier for them. I would also like to open a healthcare business and a small training school for CNAs and phlebotomists.

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For Jessica, ECPI was part of a much bigger journey. It was where years of healthcare experience, personal sacrifice, and ambition came together. She challenged herself, found a support system, and is still learning new skills to keep moving forward and achieve her goals.

During her time at ECPI, she witnessed how education could change the direction of someone’s life. She learned alongside students from different backgrounds, ages, and experiences, and watched them grow in confidence, knowledge, and purpose.

Her own story reflects that same kind of growth. What began as a decision to return to school has helped Jessica step into new roles, take on more responsibilities, and continue building a future in nursing that is still expanding.