When you want it all, online is the way to go for RN to BSN
June 3, 2017
Randy T. McGonigal, Sr. is a staff nurse at
Riddle Memorial Hospital and a member of the class of 2017. A patient care and monitor technician for 14 years, he finished an ADN at
Delaware County Community College (DCCC) then attended Drexel for his BSN. McGonigal became interested in cardiology, electrophysiology, and critical care nursing, however, his current specialty is orthopedics with a focus on spines and telemetry nursing. The program at Drexel Online enabled him to take one online class at a time while simultaneously completing nursing courses and clinicals through DCCC. He’ll return to Drexel in September to begin the master’s program in nursing education.
This father of four kids (with a fifth is due in June) loves playing guitar, singing, and writing songs and has recently stepped back on to the stage to perform at various pubs and coffeehouses. As if that’s not enough to keep this alumnus busy, he will begin volunteering at Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) in West Chester this summer.
He shared some thoughts about his experience in the Drexel Online nursing program.
Why did you choose Drexel University?
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What does being a Drexel Nurse mean to you?
Being a Drexel Nurse means being the kind of nurse I have always wanted to be, and am practicing to be. It means being passionate about this profession, caring and kind to all I encounter and encouraging and supportive on all levels. It means going the extra mile every chance I can to increase comfort or decrease suffering. It means pursuing the greatest, most effective and safest manners and methods of treatments, and to advocate for those practices to be implemented based on the scientific evidence acquired. Being a Drexel Nurse means that even after I have a BSN, or MSN, or even FNP, I will continue in my pursuit of increased knowledge and skill. Being a Drexel Nurse means that I seek to embody the spirit of our profession on and off the clock and in all aspects of my life.
What was your experience in the inaugural ADN-BSN class like?
My first experience was actually during the information session presented at my DCCC Nursing Orientation. I can’t remember the names of the presenters, or what they looked like, but I know they made me feel valued and valuable. They made me feel even more excited than I already was. They actually presented me with the means to reach my goals and did so in a manner that I could take advantage of. It was clear that this was NOT just a sales pitch, but that the people putting this together genuinely cared about our success. I was not ‘just a community college student’, rather I was a student that this University wanted to come alongside and partake in this journey towards my goals.
Personally, what motivated you to get involved in the nursing field?
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Anything else?
I don’t know of ANY other college or university actively working out ways to help those of us who may be coming from a different place than the average college student. A local university in Chester County told me they would not accept me into their BSN program because they only accept graduating high school seniors. I was 28 years old with a wife and four kids and seemingly out of options for getting the BSN in a timely manner, so I decided to pursue my AND at DCCC and figure out the BSN later. That’s when Drexel University stepped in in a BIG way! The support and guidance from advisors to faculty and even to administrators have been AMAZING! Weekend phone calls and e-mails when asked for, one on one time for an hour or more, career advice and mentorship — this is the kind of place where I want to learn. This is the kind of place where I want to work. This is the kind of person I am and seek to be.