Among the more than 60 students graduating from Galen College of Nursing’s Gainesville campus on January 15, there were two special guests: Galen faculty members.

Denise Creegan, MSN, RN and Jennifer O’Laughlin, MSN, RN both completed and earned their Master of Science in Nursing degree last December, and were given their master’s academic hoods. The pair received their hoods from their colleague, Galen Gainesville faculty member Jo McLaughlin, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC, while the other faculty in attendance cheered and formed an honor guard. Then they received their diplomas from Gainesville Dean Morgan Smith, MSN, RN.

“Their achievement is a powerful reflection of the mutual commitment that defines our community,” Smith said. “It demonstrates Galen’s dedication to fostering professional growth and creating meaningful pathways for advancement, while also highlighting the passion and loyalty of our faculty, who continue to invest their talents back into the institution. This milestone doesn’t just celebrate their individual accomplishments—it reinforces the strength of our culture, where continued learning, support, and shared purpose help each of us rise together.”

Creegan currently works in the Licensed Practical Nursing diploma program at the Gainesville campus, having joined the college in 2023.

“I have been a part of many Galen graduations,” Creegan said. “This one was surreal and exciting because I was graduating alongside the students that I taught. I have been with them on their journey, and they have been with me on mine, which made this such a unique experience.”

O’Laughlin has worked with Galen in different capacities since 2014, and is currently a full time clinical instructor. For O’Laughlin, earning her master’s degree was the closing of a chapter she began many years ago.

“It was a dream that I had for a really long time,” O’Laughlin said. “I worked for HCA Healthcare for 11.5 years and then I decided to go back to school to get my BSN with Galen, and then I learned about the MSN educator track while working for HCA Healthcare.”

O’Laughlin worked as a registered nurse for 18 years, and was most recently at HCA Healthcare a clinical support coordinator, where she got her feet wet in training new nurses to the unit she was on. Her MSN program has helped train her to become a stronger, and more skilled educator, so she can continue to develop and shape the next generation of nurses.

“The MSN program at Galen was a really good program,” O’Laughlin said. “I was really satisfied with it. It prepared me to be an instructor by how to communicate well with the students, understanding your student’s expectations, as well as just becoming familiar with Galen as a school. The preceptorship program (as part of the degree) was also super helpful in the transition to my new role.”

Since beginning the MSN nurse educator track in 2019, Galen has graduated more than 300 people into advanced academic roles. And since it’s an online degree program, students can take the course from anywhere. That’s why it’s so rare for two students to be in the same area, and even rarer for them to both be on the same faculty together at a Galen campus.

“I knew Denise because you kind of get to know your fellow students and it was nice to see someone else going through and achieving the same goal as well,” O’Laughlin said. “When I was in the preceptorship program, I got to meet her face-to-face and we got to bond that way. It was really nice to have another coworker in the same place you are, achieving the same goal.”

If you’re looking to take the next step in your career and shape the lives of future nurses, apply now to Galen College of Nursing’s Online MSN. It’s a flexible degree program that can be completed in just under a year. Nurse leaders and educators are in huge demand, and you can select from one of our two tracks to help give you the skills you need to be successful in the next stage of your nursing journey.