With a family background in the military, Joe Adamson thought he would go into the field of national security. “I was really interested in working in emergency preparedness or disaster relief throughout high school, so I went to Clayton State University and got a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in homeland security/emergency management,” says Joe, who grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia.
His senior year, however, Joe adjusted his plans. “I was most interested in working in the field as opposed to the policy side of things, so I interned with a local fire department,” he says. That experience gave Joe exposure to emergency medical services (EMS). After graduating from Clayton State in 2018, he enrolled in a one-year EMS program at a technical college.
An Interest in Nursing
For his EMS clinicals, Joe worked in both the ambulatory setting and in a hospital. “That’s when I realized that my passion for emergency preparedness and disaster relief was rooted in a desire to help others,” he says. “Nursing stood out as a great way to blend those passions. As a nurse, you get to know patients and see the immediate impact that your care can have on them.”
Joe decided to return to Clayton State for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and he got on as a patient care technician at Piedmont Fayette Hospital in the medical-surgical area in 2021.
“I fell in love with the area of surgery, so after I finished the BSN and became a Registered Nurse in 2022, I moved into a nurse position in med-surg,” Joe says. “We treat patients receiving all different types of surgeries.” Joe excelled in his job, often acting as a relief charge nurse on the floor.
Earning the Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership Specialization/MBA – Healthcare
As he took on more responsibility at the hospital, Joe decided to further his education. “I love where I am in my career, but I want to grow and felt that I could have an impact as a leader who advocates for nurses and patients,” he says. On the advice of several colleagues, Joe researched dual Master of Science in Nursing/MBA – Healthcare programs and came across American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University.
“The MSN/MBA – Healthcare program at Post was the combination I was looking for and would give me both the nursing perspective and the organizational perspective,” Joe says. “That coupled with the experience I gain over time allows me to expand my knowledge.” Joe enrolled in the MSN/MBA-HC in 2024 and will finish in 2026.
SIMPath® Flexibility
Thanks to the MSN/MBA-HC program’s fully online, competency-based SIMPath format, Joe can juggle school with his full-time job at the hospital. “I can map out my schedule, which works well for me,” he says. “I’m able to think like a healthcare leader and apply what I learn at the hospital. It gives me a different outlook on my work.”
Aspiring to Move into Management and Beyond
When Joe graduates from Post University in 2026, he hopes to step into a hospital management role. Long term, he wants to continue to grow and move toward an executive position in healthcare. “I love bedside nursing, and I really enjoy the hospital environment, and for now, my goal is to become a charge nurse,” he says. “I’m thinking about how I can replicate amazing patient care on a bigger scale.”
Having both an MBA – Healthcare and an MSN will enable Joe to do exactly that. “I’m a lifelong learner, and pursuing this dual program is time well spent and very worthwhile,” he says. “It opens my mind to how I could become a better leader, even while I’m still at the bedside. I would definitely recommend Post University to others looking to do the same.”