Earning your bachelor’s of science in nursing can open the door to all kinds of career possibilities. Just ask Casey Seckel, 2009 alum of one of the RN-BS Online Completion program’s very first classes.
Seckel first joined the Idaho National Guard after graduating high school and trained as a medic. He went on to earn his associate’s degree in nursing and work as an LPN in an emergency department. But he knew he wanted to continue his education, so he turned to Boise State’s Online RN-BS Completion program.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It was fast, like 18 months.”
Seckel found the program ideal because it was affordable and flexible. At the time, he was the sole provider of his income and worked in Seattle, Washington.
“I couldn’t really quit work and then go to school,” he said. “So the online degree completion program really gave me the best of both worlds.”
“It was perfect because I didn’t have to be here on campus, but I still had that interaction with classmates and support of the faculty.”
Seckel went on to become a flight nurse with Life Flight Network, eventually moving up to a leadership role as the Chief Clinical Officer. But he wasn’t done learning.
From flight nurse leader to MBA
“One thing you don’t do a lot of in nursing is business, at least in the undergrad world,” Seckel said. “My role became more about the business side of things and I felt like I was lacking in some of that knowledge.”
So Seckel returned to Boise State to pursue a degree in the Executive MBA program.
“It’s opened up my eyes to opportunities around how I can utilize my knowledge and education as a nurse in things beyond what is typically traditional for nurses,” Seckel said.
Seckel continues to grow in his leadership roles. He sits on the board of directors for the Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) and on the School of Nursing’s Strategic Advisory Board of local healthcare systems.
Seckel reflects fondly on his time in the online RN-BS program, which was one of the first of its kind when he went through it.
“This is a great program,” he said. “Boise State really leaned forward in developing it…I think they saw a need for people like me who are already practicing. We can’t afford to quit school and go back, and we’re non-traditional students, but we have a desire to continue to learn and continue to grow in the profession.”
“For me it was a game-changer,” he said.