The university of tulsa Online Blog

When Jessika Evans first arrived at The University of Tulsa, she wasn’t sure where her education would take her. She was on an athletic scholarship and knew she wanted to work in health care. Then she discovered the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, and everything fell into place: “I fell in love with the balance of science, compassion, and connection that nursing offers. From that point on, I knew I had found my path.”

Evans’ story exemplifies the dedication and excellence that TU instills in its nursing students. Read on to learn more about her professional path and how her drive to provide quality care led her to pursue her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at TU.

Building Confidence Through a BSN

When recounting her experience as a BSN student at TU, Evans highlighted the holistic nature of the program and how it helped her learn to become a more well-rounded nurse: “They didn’t just teach us tasks and skills. They made us understand why and what we are doing to apply it to our future knowledge as nurses.”

The faculty also offered personalized support every step of the way: “You weren’t just another face in a lecture hall, but the professors knew you knew your face and the type of person you were.”

Evans explained that this combination of relevant, in-depth coursework and faculty involvement helped her complete her BSN knowing that she’d succeed as a nurse: “They really built our confidence … by the time I graduated, I felt very prepared, not only with the knowledge from nursing school, but with real-world readiness from our clinicals to step into this new role with a deep sense of empathy and knowledge for the patients I would be serving.”

Stepping Into Leadership Early in Her Career

Evans earned her BSN in 2024 and moved to Austin, Texas, shortly after to work at St. David’s Medical Center in the trauma and orthopedic department. She described the experience as eye-opening: “It was fast-paced, it was intense, and it pushed me to grow in ways that I could not have imagined.”

After just a few months, Evans moved into a role as a charge nurse, where she developed her skills and found her voice as a leader: “It gave me a deeper understanding of teamwork, communication, and my ability to lead with empathy even under pressure. I learned not only how to advocate for my patients, but for my fellow nurses and my team, too.”

This role ultimately inspired Evans to pursue her MSN at TU while continuing to work full time.

Advancing Her Skills in an MSN Program

When Jessika returned to TU for her MSN, she wondered whether the online graduate program would be as personal as the on-campus BSN program had been. She soon realized that TU’s focus on student mentorship and connection extends to the online learning environment: “It was the same professors who cared deeply about my education. They respected my experience as a working nurse while continuing to challenge me academically.”

This challenge helped Evans hone both her clinical and nonclinical nursing skills, namely “the ability to adapt, to stay calm, to think critically, to use both technical knowledge and empathy in every situation.”

She drew on these skills, as well as her experience as a charge nurse, to grow academically and professionally: “The simulations and labs gave me a chance to practice my skills in a safe environment where I can make mistakes, but also learn from those mistakes. Then clinical rotations allowed me to step into real-world patient settings and use those skills with confidence.”

What Sets TU Nursing Apart

When asked about what makes nursing programs at TU distinct, Evans had a clear answer: “TU nursing school holds students to a high standard, and that standard prepares us to be leaders in the future of health care.”

She also explained that this high standard is evident in the level of care and mentorship she received from TU faculty: “The professors invested in me, they challenged me, and they supported me through every stage of this journey.”

This support extended beyond ensuring that students meet academic benchmarks. “I always felt like they were preparing us for the real world of nursing, not just for the exams,” Jessika said. “It wasn’t just about memorizing facts or content to get a good grade on the test. It was about learning how to apply your knowledge and facts to those complex real-life situations.”

Together, these elements produce effective nurses who lead with care, empathy, and a growth mindset. Jessika said of her own experience, “The TU courses didn’t just prepare me as a nurse; they prepared me to grow as a nurse, to succeed anywhere that I was placed, and to have empathy with my patients and be able to connect with those around me. And that’s exactly what I’ve been able to do.”

Next Steps: Expanding Her Impact

Since earning her MSN, Evans has worked in orthopedic, trauma, and operating room (OR) settings. She also discovered a passion for education after completing her capstone on preparing new graduate nurses for successful transitions into practice settings.

“This project really sparked something in me,” she said. “It made me realize how much I care about helping new nurses and building their confidence and developing tools for them to succeed.”

Evans is also interested in pursuing further education, such as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, so she can focus on family practice and nurse education.

When considering her potential next steps, she feels optimistic: “Whether it’s caring for patients in the OR, leading a team, pursuing higher education, or teaching future nurses, there really is no limit to where you can go with nursing.”

Lead With Excellence at TU

Evans upholds the characteristics that define and distinguish TU nurses. “To me, being a TU nurse means carrying forward values of compassion, adaptability, empathy, and most importantly, excellence,” she said. “And every piece of that came together to make me who I am today as a nurse.”

Evans’ story shows how the right education can open doors to leadership, skill development, and success in nursing.

If you’re a nurse interested in making an impact in an administrative, clinical, or educational leadership role, consider the online graduate nursing programs at TU. With both MSN and DNP programs, you can choose the path that fits your goals. If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to become a registered nurse (RN), you can pursue the online Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program.

Explore online nursing programs at TU, and find out how they can prepare you to lead with excellence in nursing.

Recommended Readings

What Is Soft Nursing? Careers for MSN Graduates

What Is Transformational Leadership in Nursing?

Understanding the MSN Requirements: Admission, Courses, and More