Inspired by a Family Legacy, She Strives to Help People When They Need Her the Most
Breanna Thomas
Master of Science in Nursing: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
Class of 2024
Many people grow up with dreams of emulating an early role model. Perhaps a movie star, an athlete, or a politician.
For Breanna Thomas, her inspiration came from a family member.
“My aunt was an ER nurse and she had a big influence in my life,” she says. “Watching her handle emergencies with such grace and skill made me realize I wanted to make a difference in people's lives too.”
A Desire to Have a Greater Impact
After earning her bachelor’s degree in human nutrition, Breanna enrolled in an accelerated 13-month BSN program and immediately went to work as an ER nurse upon graduation.
A year later, she decided she was ready to take on an even bigger role; one where she could take on my responsibility and have a greater impact. Since she was already an experienced ER nurse, pursuing a specialization as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) was a natural progression.
“Working in the ER had a lot of influence on me and my choices,” she says. “I wanted to dive deeper into caring for patients when they're in an acute crisis or experiencing trauma. That’s my forte and something I’m very passionate about.”
Choosing Bradley for Her Next Step
When it came to selecting a university, she says Bradley was the only school she seriously considered.
“I did a lot of research into schools where I could do it all online and set up my own clinicals, and Bradley was one of the very few programs to offer this, especially for acute care,” she says.
Another important factor was that Bradley offered a BSN to DNP degree path. “I didn’t want to have to get my MSN first. I knew I was ultimately going to pursue a doctorate because of the research and leadership aspects of the program, which I’ll need if I want to go into nursing education down the line.”
Building Relationships with Dedicated Faculty
Breanna says her experience at Bradley was everything she had hoped for. Even though she was an online student, she was still able to build relationships with the nursing faculty members.
“I really enjoyed having some of the same instructors for multiple classes because you get to know them and what their expectations are. I got to know some of my instructors pretty well, and it was clear how much they cared about their students.”
She adds that the most memorable part of the program was her DNP project, which spanned over the course of four semesters.
“That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done education-wise,” she says. “I have to give a shout out to my instructor, Kathleen Hendricks, because she was great. She was always willing to help me, and if I had any questions, she was always there for support. At the same time, she gave me a lot of constructive criticism, which I really appreciated because I want to do the best that I can, and I need somebody to be honest with me about my work.”
Gaining All-Around Experience as a Practitioner
Breanna earned her DNP degree in late 2024, and after she takes her board certification exams, she hopes to work as a hospitalist at Carlsbad Medical Center in New Mexico, where she currently works.
She says that while she sees herself going back to a position in the ER, she wants to broaden her skillset by practicing hospital medicine. “I've already learned so much doing my clinicals there and I think it will make me a better practitioner overall.”
She adds that she’s also like to further her education by adding a post-master's certificate in pediatric acute care, and later in her career she hopes to teach in a clinical setting, where she can play a hands-on role in preparing the next generation of nurses.
Advice for Prospective Online Nursing Students
For those considering an online nursing degree, Breanna emphasizes the importance of commitment, time management, and finding a support network.
“You need to have the discipline to put in the work because nobody is going to make you go to class,” she advises. “At the end of the day, your job is to care for patients and their life is in your hands. So you need to manage your time appropriately to learn all the things that you're supposed to learn.”
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