Lisa Rebeschi thought she could go farther. A seasoned nursing education
professional, she is a faculty member and department chair at Southern
Connecticut State University. “But I wanted to pursue a doctoral degree,”
she says. “I know there’s still so much to learn, and I wanted to better
inform my practice.” Rebeschi wanted to combine the discipline of
nursing education with educational technology, and that led her to
consider Capella.
Despite apprehension, Capella was “a perfect fit”
Rebeschi thought of herself as a “traditional” learner, and was wary of
online education. But she was impressed upon learning that Capella is
accredited, and that its Nursing Education specialization is designed around
the competencies set forth by the National League for Nursing. “That the
program was modeled on these competencies, which are the industry
standard, was very important to me,” she recalls. “The online aspect
worked with my family and work responsibilities—it was a perfect fit.”
Once she entered the program, Rebeschi found the online experience
offered more than she had anticipated. “I really wasn’t considering a
degree online. I thought I wouldn’t be as engaged, or be able to connect
with faculty or other students,” she says. “But it turned out to be such a
great experience; it changed my idea of how I learn best and expanded
my comfort zone in new, positive ways.”
She also found that she could form strong relationships at Capella. “I’ve
been surprised at the depth of the relationships that I’ve developed with
other learners and faculty . . . It’s been so helpful to have that support
from learners and faculty.”
Becoming a leader in the field
Rebeschi reports that her Capella experience is helping her develop
professionally while she’s earning her degree. “I’ve been able to apply
what I’m learning directly to the courses I teach, and the research
competencies I’ve developed have been invaluable.” She’s proving herself
as a leader in nursing education; an article she co-authored was recently
published in the International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship.
“No matter where you are in life, there’s much more to learn,” she says.
“Capella helps you build on all your knowledge, so you can become a
true scholar.”