She’s driven to help the underserved. Maryville has helped make that possible.
Jane Ologolo has a passion for helping others. It’s what drove her to become a nurse. It also inspired her to pursue her online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN FNP) degree from Maryville. And despite the many challenges associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she graduated in the spring of 2020.
But she didn’t stop there.
While working in a psychiatric hospital, Jane discovered what may be her true calling. “I love to help underserved populations and communities,” she says, “I just want to help better their lives.”
She decided she could do this most effectively by specializing her practice in treating people who are coping with issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction.
She returned to Maryville to earn a Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate, and graduated in 2022.
You have to find what works for you, be passionate about it, and work towards achieving it.
Finding success through hard work — and receiving support along the way
Earning two advanced-nursing credentials while working full time was challenging, but Jane says it was eminently doable with a little focus and determination.
“Life is hard as it is, but you just have to find what works for you, be passionate about it, and work towards achieving it,” she says. “That’s how I did it. You just have to manage yourself and get the work done.”
She adds that her student support advisor, Jazmin Aaron, also played a key role in helping her stay on track. “She was always calling me or setting up appointments to make sure everything was running smoothly,” she says.
Jane says while she developed many important skills at Maryville, one of her favorite aspects of the program was enhancing her knowledge of pharmacology under the tutelage of Dr. Geralyn Frandsen, an Adjunct Professor of Nursing at Maryville’s Walker College of Health Professions.
“I learned a lot about psychotropic medications [drugs that can affect a person’s mental state] and how they work in the brain,” she says. “I found it very interesting, and I really enjoyed my pharmacology coursework.”
The dedicated support Jane received throughout the program extended to her clinical work. “My preceptor was a great instructor and a great teacher. I learned a lot from her, and I hope to carry on that legacy.”
It’s all about your determination and having the zeal to accomplish your goals.
Looking forward to the next chapter
Reflecting on her time at Maryville, Jane says it’s been an amazing journey. Now she’s excited to be embarking on the next stage of her career as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and she hopes to open her own practice one day.
Jane offers the following words of encouragement to those who are apprehensive about taking steps to advance their careers: “It’s all about your determination and having the zeal to accomplish your goals. Hard work will pay off in the end.”
If you’re ready to see how Maryville Online can help you be brave and pursue your passion, we’re here for you. Check out our online bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorate degrees, or schedule a call with an advisor today.
Learn more about our programs.
Take your next step.