When Lakeshia Brown was 12 years old, her grandmother—who raised her and her two siblings—had a stroke. “I had to take on a lot more responsibility because she was paralyzed on one side, and many things were difficult for her,” she says. Despite that challenge, Lakeshia found fulfillment in her newfound role at home. “I discovered a love of taking care of people, which made me think about becoming a nurse.”
From CNA to RN: A Journey of Growth
Lakeshia earned a basketball scholarship to the University of West Alabama, but during her freshman year, she was seriously injured in a car accident. She returned home to focus on her recovery and, a few years later, resumed her education at the local community college. A mother by then, Lakeshia decided that the nurse aide program was a perfect fit. She became a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) in 2005.
“I fell in love with that work and did that for about six years,” Lakeshia says. “I learned the foundation of healthcare while caring for patients, but I wanted to do more.” She returned to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2012, gaining experience in correctional care, long-term care and assisted living facilities. In 2019, Lakeshia achieved a longtime goal of becoming a Registered Nurse, earning an Associate Degree of Nursing at Fortis College.
A New Chapter: Making the Leap to the Acute Care Setting
Lakeshia started her RN career in the nursing home setting she was familiar with, but set her sights on moving into acute care. In 2020, she became a travel nurse, gaining experience in psychiatric nursing. She joined another hospital in her area later that year as a per diem float nurse, which exposed her to medical-surgical, the intensive care unit and orthopedics. “I always worked multiple jobs because I like getting experience at a lot of places,” Lakeshia says.
In 2023, Lakeshia joined Charlton Place, a rehabilitation and assisted living facility that offers a wide range of specialized services, from psychiatric care to post-surgical treatment to dementia management. As a supervisor, Lakeshia quickly learned that supporting her team is an essential part of providing excellent patient care. “To be a great manager, you need the experience as a nurse, but you also need strong management and leadership skills,” she says. That realization influenced Lakeshia to go back to school. “I want to be the best manager I can be and support my team, and I knew that a bachelor’s degree would allow me to do that.”
On the Rise: How Post University Fueled Lakeshia’s Growth
When Lakeshia joined Encompass Health as a contract nurse in 2024—moving to part-time at Charlton Place—she heard about Post University’s online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The SIMPath® program caught her attention. “I’d been thinking about earning a BSN for a while by then, but when I heard about the SIMPath option and reached out to an advisor at Post, it sounded great,” she says. Lakeshia started the RN-to-BSN program at Post in January 2025 and finished the program in an impressive six months.
This summer, Lakeshia started her own business called Elite Home Care Agency, which provides services ranging from daily living support to dementia care assistance to post-surgical care to individuals in the comfort of their homes. “I’m so excited about it,” she says. “I’m also certified through the American Heart Association to teach Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support classes. Having the BSN gave me confidence to do this!”
A Future Full of Possibility
Lakeshia is proud of her educational achievement and frequently recommends Post University to nursing colleagues. “This program is convenient, efficient and affordable and provides students the education to further their careers,” she says. “My advisor is amazing. It’s been awesome going to Post.”
Today, Lakeshia reflects on her healthcare career with appreciation. “I love helping people, and I feel like I’ve made a difference as a nurse,” she says. “I’ve been a caregiver my whole life, so I’m grateful to have chosen to do what I do.”