Meet Valencia Collins

Connected From Afar

Although she lives and works as a nurse in Cleveland, OH, Valencia Collins feels like she has a second home here in New Orleans. After transferring to Loyola Online in her second year as an undergraduate nursing student, Valencia immediately connected with the people and community. That’s why she decided to stay at Loyola to earn her master’s degree in nursing in healthcare systems administration and leadership. 

“I chose Loyola Online for my program because I knew I would always come to New Orleans to complete graduation,” Valencia explained with a laugh. “It’s a fun city. I love the culture. I love the people. Attending as a student, I've come to love the university and the relationship and rapport I built with my professor and peers.” 

Despite living more than 1,000 miles away, Valencia hasn’t had any trouble applying what she’s learned online to her daily work as a nurse. Learning from others across the country helped Valencia bond with her classmates, especially as the pandemic created new challenges for the nursing profession.  

“Even as a nurse that's practiced in Ohio for a number of years, laws change in nursing from state to state. But I've always felt the connection to patient care and the goals of patient care and quality care in this nursing program,” Valencia said. “I felt like my input mattered. My discussion board was very engaging with my peers, and I realized that nursing wasn't as specified for the region as I thought it was.”

Set a Clear Path to Graduation

From day one, Valencia’s program director provided her with a clear degree plan and course listing so she would know what to expect each semester. 

“I had a plan. I could see in two years where I would be if I stuck to the course, and that was really helpful. The other colleges that I had attended had not offered that opportunity,” she said. 

Now that she’s graduated, Valencia looks forward to some well-deserved rest. Although she’s already considering Loyola Online’s doctor of nursing practice program later down the line.  

Join a Community of Online Learners 

“I’ve really appreciated my journey here with Loyola—each professor that I've had and the peers that I've met online and engaged with,” she explained. “Just being able to be part of such a great organization, even from afar.” 

Loyola offers a variety of online nursing programs designed for working professionals like Valencia. If you’re interested in an engaging online learning experience, explore degree programs at Loyola Online. The application to Loyola's online programs is free and can take as little as 10 minutes to complete. You can connect individually with an admissions counselor by emailing online@freoreport.net or texting 504-588-6025.