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For working nurses, the desire to advance in their careers often collides with real‑world barriers, time, finances, and family responsibilities. Kacie Antrobus, MSN, RN, an Orthopedic Nurse Navigator at HCA Florida Capital Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla., knows that challenge firsthand.

After three years in her role, Antrobus recognized that she needed an advanced degree to continue growing as a nurse leader. When discussing her options, she had one main goal.

“I did not want student debt,” Antrobus said.

With support from HCA Healthcare and Galen College of Nursing’s Online MSN program, she found a path forward that made pursuing a graduate degree possible while still working full time.

Inspired to become a nurse by the maternity nurses who cared for her during the delivery of her twin children, Antrobus has worked her way up from licensed practical nurse to a nurse leader in her hospital.

As a nurse navigator, she helps coordinate the care process for patients along every stage of their journey when they are scheduled for surgery. This can include educating patients on the operation, what life will be like post-operation, and preparing them for everything that follows. She also coordinates with the physical therapy team, occupational therapy team, and case managers to make sure that the patients are receiving the care they need.

Over the years while working for HCA Healthcare, Antrobus has taken advantage of the organization’s positive approach to self-improvement.

“They definitely promote education,” Antrobus said, adding that employees are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees and certifications.

“It just promotes the fact that everyone’s a part of the company, that we’re a family. They really put it into practice.”

One of Antrobus’ goals when she decided to pursue her Online MSN was she wanted to avoid accruing a large amount of debt.

As an HCA Healthcare colleague, Antrobus was eligible for HCA Healthcare’s tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement programs, and she was also eligible for the GI bill through her husband, a veteran.

From there, it didn’t take long to enroll at Galen College of Nursing and start working on her master’s degree.

“Knowing that (HCA Healthcare) will have a financial support, it really makes it easy, and then the partnering with Galen, it was one of those things where I called one day just on a whim, and by the end of the day, I was already signed up,” Antrobus said. “They made it very easy.”

Through Galen’s Online MSN program, Antrobus gained the skills and confidence to expand her impact at the bedside and beyond.

“There is so much involved, like evidence‑based practice and doing research, and all those elements that are so important for you to actually feel confident when you’re giving education to a patient,” Antrobus said.

The program’s structure of providing students with real-world examples in the curriculum also made the work feel meaningful.

“Every assignment within classes, they build on each other, so you don’t feel like you’re just wasting your time,” she said.

Antrobus’ impact as a nurse navigator is evident not only in patient outcomes, but in how hospital leadership and colleagues view her work.

Misty Martin, associate chief nursing officer at HCA Florida Capital Hospital, says Antrobus’ dedication and collaboration set her apart.

“As a nurse navigator, Kacie is committed and to the care and improvement of human life,” Martin said. “She works closely with our spine and orthopedic patients to ensure a quality plan of care. Kacie’s journey throughout her career is commendable and she is recognized by her colleagues for her incredible dedication to our patients.”

One of Antrobus’ main takeaways from her experience with Galen and going back to school as a professional is that it’s never too late to improve yourself.

She recalled seeing a woman in her associate degree in nursing-bridge program who had waited for years to go back to school, and that experience helped put things in perspective.

“Just because you get to a certain age doesn’t mean you quit learning,” Antrobus said. “We are lifelong learners and you can do it at any age. If it’s important to you, it’s never too late.”

If you’re looking at increasing your impact on patients away from the bedside, Galen can help you get there. Galen’s Online MSN and Online Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees are made with the working nurse leader in mind. Our rigorous curriculum is designed to help give leaders the tools they need to become proficient as nurse administrators in hospitals, or faculty leaders at nursing schools.