#MeetUsMonday - Meet RN to BSN Student Mike
Meet RN to BSN Student Mike.
Outdoorsy ER night shift nurse who earned urban and wilderness EMT certifications. A hyperbarics tech for a dozen years. Cat-dad to Petunia, an “absolute disaster” who “does her best,” and a former West Coaster who’s bounced around East Coast cities from Norfolk to Virginia Beach. First-year RN to BSN student.
BEFORE NURSING
“I was always one of those people who didn’t know what they wanted to do—probably why I’m 40 and about to be a new graduate! I did a number of things before healthcare—business roles, a couple of different engineering education tracts— I’d quickly lose interest.
“I came to nursing in a roundabout way. I’d taken a wilderness EMT course, and met someone who worked in hyperbarics, which sounded cool. So, I applied for the job and got it, becoming a certified hyperbaric technologist.
“Something happened in the ED the other day that we had just talked about the pathophysiology in class, and in a reading, and, while it felt a little in the weeds, it was really interesting and, sure enough, it popped up at work. It makes me realize that I’m building on what I knew about pathophysiology and learning things at a deeper level.”
RN to BSN student Mike Putnam, an emergency room night shirt nurse and member of the class of 2026
“Hyperbarics is oxygen therapy and it’s used most commonly as a treatment for non-healing wounds. Our clinic was on the grounds of a San Diego hospital. I had a nurse manager there who was a great mentor to me, and that really opened my eyes to what healthcare could be. Working with patients receiving hyperbaric treatment was routine, but interesting, because you’re seeing your patients for two, three months at a time and the therapy is pretty time intensive. It was a team approach; it paid all right and was rewarding. You got to know your patients, which, especially now that I’m working in the ER, was different.”
HIS PATH TO NURSING
“We were moving every few years for my wife’s work, so I was looking for a more portable job, and one that was a little more longer-term. There are a lot of things you can do with a nursing degree . . . We were living in Hampton Roads/Norfolk area, and I went to Tidewater Community College to earn an associate’s degree, and started working as an ER tech. It was definitely an adjustment; in hyperbarics, there’s a lot of customer service, you see the same people for months, and in the ER, there’s a lot more time-sensitive issues, not even just because of the critical nature of who’s coming in but because you’re managing capacity, moving people through, and meeting patient demands.”
WHY EARN A BSN?
“The easiest answer is that, Magnet being what it is, a lot of hospitals require that their nurses earn BSNs. I was a little not excited to be going back to school—I’m a little older, I’ve already spent a lot of time in school—but I was pretty excited with UVA.”
WHAT THE RN to BSN PROGRAM IS LIKE
“Community college was a pragmatic choice. At UVA, one semester in, I’m really happy with it. The faculty understand that most of us are working full-time as nurses and going to school on the side. They’re a little more flexible and understanding with assignments—within reason.
“BSNs can definitely be a checkbox; you can cruise through it with an online-only program. The community aspect of UVA’s program is one of its bigger benefits. I wanted to go where I’d get the best education; at UVA there’s a level of professionalism that I really appreciate.
“Something happened in the ED the other day that we had just talked about the pathophysiology in class, and in a reading, and, while it felt a little in the weeds, it was really interesting and, sure enough, it popped up at work. It makes me realize that I’m building on what I knew about pathophysiology and learning things at a deeper level.”
THE PEOPLE IN HIS PROGRAM
“We’re diverse, both in our specialties and experience. Some people have been nurses for a long time, and some of us are newer grads. It’s a little community, great to get other people’s views, hear others’ experiences.
“Something I liked and appreciate about Dr. [Crystal] Toll right from the beginning was that when she talked to us . . . she listened to our skepticism, definitely listened to what we have to say, and is always approachable and supportive. If we’re going to have a discussion, it’s not just her dictating to us. Everyone counts.
“My peer mentor is a second-year RN to BSN student who works in the ICU; you’d think we wouldn’t have a lot in common, but we do. Our connections have been less about the program and more about sharing experiences as new graduate nurses. It’s been great having another person who isn’t directly in my work bubble to share with, and a complement to my hospital’s nurse residency program.”
WORK-LIFE-SCHOOL BALANCE
“It’s been a challenge—not necessarily because the coursework is too hard, but because I’m managing it with my other obligations. At some point, I realized that being able to earn a BSN, and especially to do it at UVA, was an exceptional opportunity that not everyone gets.
“My BSN journey is an investment in myself, my clinical practice, my professional growth, and my future. Motivation doesn’t create additional time each day for obligations, and I struggle often to find the time, but motivation makes it easier to spend the time on courses and maximize the benefit I’ll get from this program.”
UVA SCHOOL OF NURSING IN A WORD?
“CONFIDENCE. There is a confidence to the program itself that hints of growth to come. It encourages you to be an active participant in your development in ways that are meaningful to your career goals, within reason, rather than rigid and limited. I feel like that helped me to grow as a person and embrace by potential as a nursing student.”
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