Becoming Who She Wants to Be: Lasting Impact and Lifelong Learning in Nursing
Growing up in Cameroon, Careen T. knew she was destined to make an impact. Her parents always had lofty expectations for her — even if they didn't necessarily align with her own goals.
“My dad had all the plans for me,” she recalls. “He wanted me to go to law school, and then after that do international relations.”
But as she grew up and ultimately left Cameroon for the United States, Careen decided she wanted to be involved in medicine. Advice from her mother further encouraged Careen to consider nursing as a way to work in medicine and positively affect people's lives.
“My mom was a midwife for 23 years,” Careen says. “I admired her. I think she's one of the reasons why I wanted to go to medical school. I wanted to be something — I wanted something more.”
Inspired by her mother's meaningful career and ready to make a difference her own way, Careen began a nursing journey that would lead to caring for psychiatric patients, mentoring younger nurses, graduating with an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and changing countless lives.
The world needs more Saints who understand their potential to improve lives and impact the future — like Careen.
‘Give a listening ear’: Finding career certainty from coursework
Even after enrolling in nursing prerequisites, Careen wasn't quite certain which path she wanted to follow.
She considered pursuing careers working in the intensive care unit (ICU) or becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), but those careers didn't quite connect with her.
Then everything clicked into place. Once she started taking psychiatric mental health coursework, she knew she was exactly where she wanted to be. It was one of the final classes she took, but it made the journey worthwhile and set her on a path toward becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Careen says it's the direct impact she has and the personal connections she builds with patients that always excited her about psychiatric mental health.
“You just really meet real people that are vulnerable, in their worst state, and just give a listening ear,” she says. “You figure out a way to get out with them to help them.”
Careen poses with her father during Maryville’s 2026 commencement celebration.
‘No question is foolish’: Finding support through friendship and faculty
Careen was never alone throughout her online nursing education. Whether she was studying with colleagues or interacting with dedicated faculty and advisors, she always had support when she needed it.
It started with studying alongside a close friend.
“She's like a sister,” Careen says. “We're prayer partners.”
After meeting about five years ago during their nurse practitioner programs — with Careen studying psychiatric mental health and her friend studying family care — they encouraged each other to continue and keep pushing forward in their education.
When it was time to take the next step and earn a terminal degree, Careen says her friend told her about Maryville's program.
“Right before she graduated, she was like, ‘I really love Maryville. What do you think? Right after I graduate, just give me some time to take a deep breath — and maybe we should just go back and do a DNP,’” Careen recalls. “And so that's how it happened.”
As the kind of person who really likes to get things done right the first time, Careen found she aligned well with Maryville's DNP program and faculty. Along the way, if she had questions or needed guidance, she knew her faculty and advisors were there for her. The support helped her complete advanced coursework with confidence around her family and professional obligations.
“I was able to balance being in school, being a mom, and being a full-time clinician,” she says.
Since the doctorate program is highly project-focused, Careen says her chairperson was among the most helpful.
“My chairperson did a wonderful job with me — being patient and responding,” she says. “If I don't understand something, I'm asking a question. No question is foolish.”
The DNP isn't the end: A lifelong love of learning
Earning her DNP from Maryville helped instill in Careen a true appreciation for lifelong learning. In such a quickly evolving field, a terminal degree like a DNP reflects the highest level of preparedness available — but new research, advancements, technologies, and regulations mean there will always be more to learn.
Careen says this mentality is especially important for nurses like her who have a professional impact on younger nurses and nursing students.
“It's made me want to know more, want to keep learning more, in order to be able to give that excellent care clinically to the patients that I see — and also to the students that come my way,” she says. “Every time they leave, I want them to leave with something.”
She says podcasts, articles, and books help keep her skills sharp and help her understand new developments in nursing.
“I literally made it a point, even if it's just 15 minutes every day,” she says, “to see what's out there, what's changing, what's different with other providers, so that I can also implement that in my practice.”
Building a legacy of impact for the future
Though her DNP marks the end of one chapter of her education and career, Careen is excited to move on to the next one.
“It's still a little surreal. It's been a journey, but I'm just taking it a day at a time,” she says.
As she continues to advance and grow her knowledge and skills, Careen is also leaving a legacy for the future of nursing. Serving as a nursing leader, mentor, and preceptor, her work will continue to have a lasting effect on tomorrow's nursing professionals.
As for nurses ready to make a move toward a terminal degree, Careen says it's important to find the right path for your goals and trust in your support network.
“If you know that this is really what you want to do, stay focused on the path, stay aligned to what your project is, and ask questions,” she says.
That's the approach that worked for her. Crediting her faith and acknowledging her own hard work and perseverance, Careen is grateful to have earned fruitful education, built a meaningful career, and found a sense of deep personal fulfillment.
“I'm so grateful to God that he allowed me to be that person I really wanted to be,” she says.