The Importance of Continuing My Nursing Education: Meet Carol McHale

Key Takeaways

• Carol D. McHale, RN, MSN, CNOR earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) through Chamberlain University later in her career, after starting in a diploma program.
• She advanced from staff nurse to coordinator of the urology, gynecology, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialty lines to operating room manager, crediting each promotion to her degrees.
• Nationally, 72.9% of RNs now hold a bachelor’s degree or higher1—a shift Carol got ahead of.
• Chamberlain’s online format let her keep working full time and raise two children while she studied.
• Her advice: Take coursework seriously and go through it with a colleague if you can.

Carol D. McHale’s path to nursing began in an operating room (OR), not a classroom. Her husband, who worked in information technology at a local hospital, became friends with a cardiothoracic surgeon, and that’s how Carol came to watch open-heart surgery firsthand.

“I was hooked and set a goal to work as an operating room nurse,” she says.

Changing careers meant starting over. She enrolled in a diploma nursing program and graduated at age 50—a milestone she speaks about with pride. After 18 months on a telemetry floor, she moved into the operating room, where she stayed almost 15 years until retirement.

How a BSN and MSN Changed Her Life

Carol said she knew that if she wanted to build a nursing career, she’d need to go back to school. She and several colleagues encouraged each other as they progressed through Chamberlain’s RN to BSN Degree Completion Option while working full time and raising children. 

“After receiving my BSN, I was promoted to be the coordinator of urology, gynecology, and ENT specialty lines. This would not have been possible without my BSN.”

She barely paused before going further. “I had such a worry-free and rewarding path to my BSN that I took off just a few weeks and immediately enrolled into Chamberlain’s MSN program,” she says. 

With management as her goal, Carol chose the Nurse Executive specialization—and it delivered, she says. After finishing the program, she was promoted to OR manager. “That position would not have been an option for me without my MSN degree.”

Why Keep Learning, Even Later in a Career?  

Carol earned both degrees well after most nurses finish their formal education, and she has no regrets about the timing. 

“I worked with many nurses who said, ‘I’ve been doing this for 30 years, I don’t need a college degree,’” she recalls. “I disagree: Every class discussion, every reading assignment, and every project taught me about nursing … and about growing and achieving all that I can.”

Her path reflects a trend in the field: Nationally, 72.9% of the RN workforce holds a bachelor’s degree or higher.¹ Carol, now retired and living in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, got there in her own way, and in her own time.

Why She Chose Chamberlain

Before enrolling, Carol compared several online RN to BSN program paths and found Chamberlain stood apart: “Students can work at their own pace, there is not a required time frame for completion, and the tuition was very reasonable,” she says. She also benefited from her employer’s tuition reimbursement plan, which helped her manage costs.

Learning From Peers and a Mentor

The people around her shaped her experience as much as the coursework. “My favorite part of the BSN program was learning from other students,” she says, recalling weekly discussions that brought “different perspectives about the nursing profession from students across the country.” 

While earning her MSN, she chose as her mentor the hospital’s emergency department manager, who provided her with terrific insights into effective leadership. She also credits Chamberlain’s online library, whose hundreds of journals helped her while researching and writing papers.

Balancing Work, Family, and School

Fitting coursework around a full-time job and two children took flexibility, which Carol found in Chamberlain’s online programs. She could join discussions and complete assignments on her own schedule, so she was able to keep working and get her kids to their activities. That flexibility mattered most when she flew a thousand miles to be with her hospitalized mother and was still able to keep up with her coursework. “That was a godsend,” she says.

What Future Chamberlain Students Should Know

Carol’s advice is simple and direct: “Take your classes seriously, be diligent about completing projects, and read the assigned textbooks. If you have the opportunity to take this journey with a colleague, do it!”

Exploring Nursing Degrees at Chamberlain

Chamberlain offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online and a campus-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) that includes in-person and online coursework. Current RNs can build on their experience through the online RN to BSN Option.

At the graduate level, Chamberlain’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree program includes multiple nurse practitioner and non-clinical specializations, including Nurse Executive and Nursing Informatics. There’s also a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and graduate certificate programs.

The BSN, MSN, DNP, and graduate certificate nurse practitioner programs at Chamberlain University are all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Carol’s nursing journey led her to a key role in the operating room—a position she set her sights on before earning her BSN. Wherever you are on your own path, consider exploring Chamberlain’s  nursing programs when you’re ready to move your nursing education forward.  

¹Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/nursing-workforce-fact-sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RN to BSN Option?

The RN to BSN Option offers a path for licensed registered nurses to build on existing education and experience to earn a BSN. 

What is the MSN Nurse Executive specialization?

The MSN Nurse Executive specialization focuses on leadership and the organizational side of nursing.

Is Chamberlain University’s nursing program accredited

Chamberlain’s BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs and graduate APRN certificate programs are all CCNE-accredited. 

How long does an online RN to BSN take?

An online RN to BSN path may take as little as one year, depending on transfer credits and pace. Time to completion varies by student.  

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.
 

By Chamberlain University