Carrie Answers “Why do I Want to Become a Nurse?"

Have you considered the question “Why do I want to become a nurse?” Marian University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is a great option for people like alumna Carrie Elkin, who made a career change from a touring musician to nursing and found a special kind of community.
Carrie had always been passionate about the world of medicine and was drawn to caretaking and end-of-life care roles after the experience of looking after her father in his final days.
“I realized when COVID hit that I really enjoyed being at home, and I didn't want to be on the road anymore,” she says, and Marian University was the perfect fit for her. Carrie loved the prerequisite program, the personable academic advisors who guided her and the reputation of Marian being a great school for nursing.
She found that her previous fast-paced career had a lot in common with nursing, and her musical gifts and personable outlook were perfect for forming a special bond with patients.
“For now, I got a job in oncology, which is a bit of a bridge into some of the end-of-life care,” Carrie says, and she’s excited to get her certifications in chemotherapy.
The sense of community at Marion, especially within her cohort, has shown Carrie the value of a support system. “They are the ones that are going to understand the most because we're all going through the same courses, the same tests,” she says.
With a seven-year-old at home, Carrie loved having the option to study on campus so that when she was home, she could give her family her undivided attention.
“My one piece of advice would be to find a great support network while you're in the program, because it's hard and it's super emotional,” she says.
Are you ready to make the switch into nursing? Complete our online contact form or speak with an admissions advisor today to take the first step. onlineabsn.mar...