Nursing Graduate Laura Pendleton Shares Her Journey Acquiring Three Nursing Degrees

My story began back in the summer of 2007. I was a single mother with two small children, working long hours, and barely making ends meet. I was in desperate need of a career boost, so I decided to enroll in school for cosmetology. While in school, I decided that it wasn’t what I was called upon to do, so I began my search for a Practical Nursing program. I had seen ECPI University’s commercials and decided to walk in for a tour. Within the week I was enrolled and on my way. 

The vibration was different at ECPI than the other schools I’d visited. The staff was happy and the students were seemingly always engaged and also happy. I genuinely loved ECPI and value my educational experience because it was just right for me. I graduated with top-tiered analytical, critical thinking, and patient assessment skills. My practical nursing program was fast paced, challenging, immersive, and thought provoking. I was kept on my feet, thinking, processing, and growing. I became a professional student, a professional nurse, and best of all, forward thinking. 

You will be so proud of yourself for not giving up when it gets hard, because it will get hard, but ECPI will give you every tool you need to succeed! Trust the process.
~Online Nursing Graduate Laura Pendleton

I learned through my time at ECPI that nursing goes beyond what you do, it is your brand. You carry your skills with you everywhere you go. You have to eat, sleep, and breathe nursing because ECPI teaches you that nothing worth having will or should be easy. The day I sat for my PN boards, I was with other nurses from well-known schools, I finished first. I passed after only 75 questions. ECPI University was the catalyst that reignited my academic fire. 

I went back to ECPI University after six years and enrolled in the RN program. Once again, I was propelled into educational realms that fortified my knowledge and enabled me to be more creative, analytical, compassionate, and consistent as a nursing professional. 

As an ECPI University alumna, it was only natural I would return yet again and earn my Bachelor’s Degree, which was done 100 percent online. The online program was very immersive, interesting, and dedicated to pushing students into professional excellence. I am now a three-time ECPI University graduate and my colleagues are always very impressed by the valuable skills they see in action every day. 

My advice for students considering ECPI University would be to give it a chance. I promise it will change your life. Study, stay ahead, make friends, and create groups. Most importantly, don’t give up. You will be so proud of yourself for not giving up when it gets hard, because it will get hard, but ECPI will give you every tool you need to succeed! Trust the process. 

I have grown from being a patient care aide making $7 an hour, through being a CNA, LPN, RN and now a BSN, RN. I have the ability to be selective and choose the jobs I want because my ECPI University-acquired knowledge and skills keep me in demand. The first two weeks after earning my BSN and updating my resume, I received 13 calls for interviews! I couldn’t believe I was in my prime, 31 years of age and turning down job offers!