"In October 2018 I attended the Association for Rehabilitation Nursing (ARN) Conference on behalf of SRH. I was honored to be selected to present a research poster on the Skin and Wound Care Assessment Team development initiative which I spear-headed throughout 2017. As a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN), I was motivated to present on behalf of my team's impressive decrease in rates of hospital-acquired pressure injuries. My experience at ARN this year was phenomenal, as it gave me the ability to network and share experiences with a diverse group of rehabilitation nursing professionals.

The speakers at the ARN conference were individuals who embodied the spirit of rehabilitation nursing and recognized it for the highly specialized level of care that it is. The keynote speaker was Kevin Pearce, a traumatic brain injury survivor and Olympian, who has had a profound impact on my nursing career for many years. I was able to talk with him after his presentation about how his story has made me a better nurse and caregiver, and he even took a photograph with me! It was an experience I will carry with me for the duration of my career, and years beyond. If there are any nurses out there who have thought for even just one fleeting moment about applying to present their work at ARN, I highly recommend you take this wonderful step to further your career. I promise, it is one you will cherish."

Erica Fo ley, RN, is combining two of her passions in her current role as Nurse Educator at Spaulding Hospital Cambridge (SHC). After graduating from Boston University, Erica began her career as a teacher in the Brighton school system and later worked as a nanny. She had always been interested in the medical profession and enrolled in Simmons College where she graduated with a BSN. She started working in the Admissions office at SHC, then moved to a nursing position on 4 South, then onto Charge Nurse. Her professional path continuing to rise on a leadership tract, Erica was focused on the needs of floor nurses. What do new nurses need to do their jobs well? What challenges do they face? What can leadership do to help nurses succeed?

Motivated by questions like these, Erica was encouraged by her manager to pursue a Master's degree through the Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on-line degree program. Having investigated other advanced degree programs, she found that the SNHU program had more content that could be customized to her specific interests. The classes were applicable and focused specifically on her professional development tract. It wasn't going to be easy- it will take Erica about 2 ½ years to complete her Master's degree, but she has the benefits of continued employment, tuition assistance and access to other educational resources throughout Spaulding and the Partners HealthCare System. For example, she will need to shadow a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) as part of her program, so will likely do this at MGH or BWH since there are no similar positions within Spaulding. Access to quality mentorship opportunities is often an overlooked benefit in advanced degree programs.

Right now Erica is motivated by her work as a Nurse Educator at SHC, and spends about 10-15 hours per week on her on-line program. She is not exactly sure where she wants to be in 10 years but knows that continuing education and practicum experiences will help position her for many new opportunities. Erica states, "The new educational programs at Spaulding were a huge motivator for me to further my education. Not to have to worry about student loans, and the ability to work full-time, is a major benefit."