Diane Campbell
Pursuing: Master of Science in Nursing, concentration in leadership in nursing education
[profile]

By the time I decided I wanted to earn my bachelor’s degree, I had already finished a college search—with my then-teenaged daughter, Michelle.

We went to many, many colleges, and what we saw was how hard it was for girls to compete against the boys. Then we visited College of Notre Dame. The campus was beautiful. The people were beautiful. They offered us scholarships and assisted us to be able to go there.

So when I realized I needed to earn my bachelor’s to advance my career, I returned to Notre Dame, choosing it over online educational opportunities. I like coming to the classroom. And there was a bonus for Michelle too. We knew Michelle would get a credit toward her tuition if another family member came.

Like daughter, like mother

With tuition reimbursement from my employer, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Weekend College, graduating in 2002—one year after Michelle earned her degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry. With Michelle living on campus—and Diane at home—we often connected on campus before my evening classes. It was really neat because we would come early enough to have dinner in Doyle with her and her friends.

Taking one or two courses a semester, I earned my degree in four years. I did it to suit my lifestyle. A lot of people would say, "Why are you going to Notre Dame? They make you take all those religion classes." I was only required to take two, and they benefited me immensely, if not as a student, then as a person.

Investing in education

When Notre Dame started offering a Master of Science in Nursing in fall 2007, I enrolled as a student in the first cohort. I thought, "Oh, am I crazy?" But I know through Notre Dame I’ll be successful. I was drawn especially to the concentration in leadership in nursing education, which I felt would support my job.

I’m very excited about it. I have an excellent boss, and she is just very supportive. They all know that I’m doing this for me. I’m going to school for 21 months every Wednesday and, in the end, I’ll have my master’s degree.

I started working for the same employer as unit secretary more than 30 years ago; I understand the value of education. After earning my LPN, RN and bachelor’s degree, I became education specialist for emergency services for Harford Hospital and Chesapeake Medical Center. In my role, I orient new emergency room nurses to the hospital, teach them how to use the computers, offer various classes and verify the nurses’ competencies each year.

The master’s degree will also expand the courses I can teach at Harford Community College, where I teach an RN refresher for nurses who have been away from nursing.

Honored with award

Last fall my work representing Upper Chesapeake Health at the Domestic Violence Prevention Committee for Harford County earned me the Sexual Assault Resource Center Good Neighbor Award. The committee involves law enforcement, the judicial system, the health department and others who work to promote the awareness of domestic violence and its prevention in the community.

At 53, I was reluctant to miss class—my first class of the semester—to accept the award. I’m still very straight and narrow. If I’m going to miss class, I want to let them know. My professor gladly accepted my excuse and offered to meet with me to review the coursework.

Accepting a challenge

With today’s nursing shortage, I try to encourage students to consider a career in the field. You see so many young people with potential who say, "My life won’t let me do it. I have so many things to do. I don’t have time." There is always a challenge in front of you, there are always doors to break down, but school is there for you. You take advantage of that and go to school.