STORY #3
An Interview with Gertha Dabady, RN, MS, NP, RCC Class of 1993, who has completed her MSN and is contemplating starting her doctorate degree.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GO ON? WHY GO ON BEYOND A TWO-YEAR DEGREE?

I knew I was going on a two year degree, no , I knew I would go on for more.
Knowing that other schools would take all of my credits made it easier.

Those that go on- they have different goals, knowing that the more you learn, the more you know, the more independent you can.

THERE ARE BIGGER GOALS, THE BIGGER PICTURE
THERE IS NO BIG EXAM
THERE IS LESS PRESSURE

You can do so much better and much more in the clinical practice with your bachelor’s you can be more creative, have more leadership- so you get a lot out of going back to school It’s challenging to tell othes- You have to see the bigger picture You get a little more money but that’s not all it is It’s more about the nursing profession.

I always saw myself being well educated, more educated .. A graduate of a two year program, what did I do? Only two years of college? I felt that I needed to go higher.

I MEAN YOU CANT DO ANYTHING-GO FOR IT!!
And I went and I loved it Then I went on, finished my bachelors then started looking, I am always looking- What’s next?

For my masters, I wanted to try someplace new (not UMass) I took one year off but then I started looking again for colleges I wanted someplace new, a change So I went to another school, I did one year there it was too expensive and I didn’t feel any support. No support at all I feel like I was studying on my own If I had any questions I felt very lost in the system.

IT”S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE - YOU ARE MORE ON YOUR OWN

RCC was cozy. It’s a different experience when you go on to a four year. You are more on your own.

HOW DOES IT WORK? HOW DID YOU FIND SUCCESS? WHAT ABOUT SUPPORT at the SCHOOL?

Studying, taking time to go to the library. I’m very independent. Let’s do what I can do and I did And I looked to my peers, the other students and having a group so I reached out to students so I did find support.

There was support too from faculty They were more willing to see me graduate from UMass, but not the other school. At UMass they gave you a sense we want all of you to pass instead of like “You know what- you take your classes, you pass you don’t pass that’s your fault Instead of - You know what, “All of you have to pass.” That was good!

WHAT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES? - scheduling and the economics

I was working nights and taking classes in the afternoon. I didn’t have a family, like kids My job gave me some money.

WHAT ABOUT SUPPORT FROM YOUR NURSE MANAGER or SUPERVISOR?

I didn’t have a role model but it was a personal goal for me

HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE MORE RCC GRADS TO GO ON, for a BSN, MSN and Doctorate degrees? TO LEAD PEOPLE TO BECOME NURSE EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, ADVANCED PRACTITIONERS, and LEADERS?

It’s was a different path, I was ready for a challenge again I became a nurse practitioner. I’m getting ready to go on for my doctorate, for clinical advancement and clinical practice

THAT’S WONDERFUL - you are the first RCC grad I’ve heard talk about their doctorate so THAT’S REALLY ENCOURAGING!!!

An interview with Gertha Dabady, RN, MS, NP, (previously Marie Glemaud) now a mentor, part-time faculty member at RCC Nursing, and nurse practitioner at a School Based Health Center, a satellite of Mattapan Community Health Center along with Dean JoAnn Mulready-Shick, March 2006

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