Dr. Cassandra Elliott is an RN and clinical nurse educator at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She loves connecting with people through education and considers her work with patients and colleagues a calling. “I feel like this is what I was born to do,” Elliott shared, noting that her goal is always to support
others, especially when they are going through hard times.
“When you really have a genuine love, care and concern for people, you show it by the way that you care for them,” she said. Throughout her 35-year career in nursing, she has strived to make each day a little less challenging for those she serves.
When Elliott began the online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Education program at Arkansas State University, she knew she could count on the same kind of support and consideration. Elliott had just completed A-State’s online RN to BSN and online Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Educator programs back-to-back and had a great experience.
“Everything is simplified and streamlined,” she said of the DNP program, helping her balance rigorous graduate coursework and a full-time job. “You’re able to work and do the things that you need to do, but you’re still learning.”
Elliott enjoyed studying translational research, healthcare systems and leadership. She also praises her DNP professors for the mentoring and guidance they provided as she implemented her quality improvement education project. She evaluated an onboarding course at Le Bonheur Children’s—Clinical Care of the Pediatric Patient—required for nurses, respiratory therapists and emergency department technicians.
The hospital has since adopted changes she suggested to improve the efficiency of the course and document its impact. She’s proud that her ideas contributed to a meaningful training that helps both providers and patients.
“You’re turning your learning into real-life practice,” Elliott said, highlighting one of the things she loved most about the program. She graduated with her doctorate in 2023 and feels that earning the degree empowered her, helping her reach a level of professional credibility that will open new doors in her career.
It’s also given her a broader range of skills to contribute to causes she cares about, including epilepsy research.
“My son had epilepsy and he passed away,” she explained, adding that her advocacy for patients with the condition continues in his honor. “I can really use my knowledge—personal and professional—to help more people.”
Elliott believes the online DNP program at A-State can provide other RNs the same opportunities to expand their scope of practice and impact additional lives.
“Once you graduate, you’re going to be doing things that matter to people,” she said. “And if it’s worth doing, it’s worth being your best.”
ACEN-Accredited Online Nursing Programs at A-State
Online accelerated nursing programs at Arkansas State University are affordable, ACEN-accredited and designed to prepare you for the next stage of your career, whether you’re new to healthcare or an established RN. You’ll have the option to complete clinical requirements at your workplace, so you can apply what you’re learning in real time.
Complete your bachelor’s degree in the online RN to BSN program and learn evidence-based practice strategies that can help you improve patient care at the bedside, during office visits and in the community. You’ll also gain expertise in areas such as infection control and care management while earning your BSN online.
The online MSN – Nurse Educator program prepares you to become an APRN focused on helping patients manage their health conditions, training healthcare providers in best practices, providing wellness workshops or teaching college nursing courses. This MSN program prepares you for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) credential as well, giving you a competitive edge for jobs in healthcare education.
In the online DNP – Education program, you will conduct research on hospital and healthcare systems and design effective educational programming that makes a difference in the lives of patients. Study informatics, health policy and ethics, and create a quality improvement project to implement in a healthcare setting. This DNP degree can also prepare you for leadership roles in healthcare organizations, or a career in government and nonprofit health services.
From novice to professional, A-State offers the right educational option for every stage of your nursing career journey.