More Than a Degree: How One Nurse Found Her Calling as a Mentor

Going back to school while working full-time is a tough decision, and Laura Lee felt the weight of that choice.

“Honestly, going back to school wasn’t something I wanted to do. That’s the honest truth,” she said.

After earning her associate degree in nursing, Lee started her career at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital, a facility owned by HCA Healthcare. The hospital frequently promoted the educational benefits available to employees, especially those interested in attending Galen College of Nursing.

“I worked med-surg for about a year before transferring to pre-op in same-day surgery. That’s when my friend Riley started talking about going back to school,” said Lee. “We also had another colleague who recently finished his bachelor’s through Galen, so he actually encouraged us to go back as well.”

Lee said she said no for a while before deciding to invest in her future and enroll in Galen’s online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

“After talking about it with my colleagues and family, weighing the pros and cons, and talking to a Galen enrollment advisor, I decided I would go back,” she said.

Although being able to go to school with a friend played a big part in her decision, Lee’s drive to become a mentor to other young nurses was the deciding factor.

“I was 7 months into my role with med-surg when I was assigned to be the charge nurse for the day, an experience which repeated in the months that followed. Those experiences were not fun because they were, of course, very stressful, but they helped me grow a lot as a nurse.  I really enjoy being a preceptor to new graduates.”

A preceptor is an experienced nurse who mentors and teaches nursing students or new graduates, providing one-on-one guidance during clinical training. Lee said she knew if she wanted to be a preceptor, a bachelor’s degree in nursing was a must.

“Since I worked at an HCA Healthcare facility, they told us it would be easy to enroll at Galen,” Lee said. “With the tuition assistance, we had the direct bill option which meant we wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket upfront and then get reimbursed, so that was nice.”

Although she was hesitant to go back to school, Lee says her experience was actually better than expected.

“Looking back, I don’t think I really had any negative experiences in any of the classes. I would say the instructors were very responsive when we needed help. Some, even on the weekends, would check in and answer our questions.”

The biggest challenge came when Hurricane Helene hit the area in September 2024.

“This area of Georgia was pretty devastated after the hurricane,” Lee said. “We were without power for like a week, and some people were even longer than that. When I finally did get some service, I was able to send an email to my instructors letting them know I couldn’t submit anything. They were very easy to work with and very understanding of our situation.”

Speed was a necessity for Lee because she wanted to complete her degree as quickly as possible.  She says after meeting with a Galen advisor over Zoom, they were able to put together a clear roadmap for her.

“I was even able to get waivers for course overloads so I could finish sooner. I think my original graduation date would have been in October, but I ended up finishing in June.”

When asked what advice she would give to other nurses considering a return to school, Lee says consider your schedule first and foremost.

“Consider your goals and determine how to fit it into your schedule. Consider where you want to go and what you want to be. If you want to get your bachelor’s degree as an HCA Healthcare colleague, I would highly recommend Galen because they really work with you.”

Ultimately, Lee said the best thing for someone considering going back to school to do is to talk to an adviser.

“Just talk to someone at Galen and find out what you can or can’t do. Whether you do it fast or slow, you are getting the same result: a quality education with a school that will work with you, work with your facility’s education assistance, and help you improve your skills.”

Maintaining a focus as a single-purpose nursing college allows Galen to direct all its resources to providing high-quality, innovative programs to those who choose nursing as a career. Galen offers several paths including our: PN/VN diploma program, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, and 3-year Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) program.

For those already in the nursing profession, Galen also offers an LPN/LVN to ADN Bridge program as well as an online master’s and doctorate degree programs.

Begin your nursing education journey today by visiting the links below.