May 2025 is a big month for Tara Coppola. She’ll finish the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Post University—exactly 30 years after she became a Registered Nurse. Her son will also graduate high school and prepare to start his own college journey.
“I started my education at the State University of New York Potsdam as a biology major on the pre-medical track, but realized that I was better suited for nursing,” says Tara, who was born in New Jersey and raised in upstate New York. She returned home after sophomore year and enrolled at both Schenectady County Community College and Ellis Hospital School of Nursing. In 1995, she graduated with the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and passed her board exams.
From Critical Care to Dermatology
Immediately after becoming an RN, Tara took a job at Ellis Hospital in the neurosurgical critical care and stepdown unit. She earned certification that enabled her to float to the medical intensive and cardiac intensive care units and the emergency department. “Starting in direct patient care in the hospital allowed me to grow my skills and knowledge,” she says. “I highly recommend that to every new nurse.”
In 2000, Tara got engaged and sought a change in her work schedule. “I met a dermatologist at the hospital who had a private practice,” she said. “She hired me to do some per diem work, which I did for about two years to see what it was all about and get good training.” That led to a full-time RN position at another dermatology office.
An Opportunity for Growth
Over the course of her 20-year career at the dermatology office, Tara supported the practice as it went from one provider to five doctors and physician assistants. “I was learning to be an administrative nurse as well as a clinically driven nurse,” Tara says. “My knowledge base was continuing to grow from my time in critical care to learning about the skin disorders and more.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Tara’s son moved to online middle school and the dermatology practice shut down for a while. “As things returned to normal, it still seemed important for me to help my son during such a pivotal time in school,” she says. She decided to step away from the workforce and guide him toward high school, which he started in fall 2021. In April 2022, she was ready to go back to work and joined an integrative health and aesthetics practice.
Driven to Pursue a BSN
In 2023, Tara felt the pull to return to school for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. “I recognize that I still have so much to offer as a nurse, which I have loved from the beginning,” she says. Colleagues urged Tara to consider becoming a Nurse Practitioner. “I had at least three people tell me I should do that, and it started really sticking with me that maybe I should. I knew I’d need to start with a BSN first, so I started looking at a lot of different online RN to BSN programs.”
Researching Colleges with Her Son Led her to Post University
One day as Tara was helping her son research colleges with business programs, they came across Post University.
“I saw this scrolling message at the top of the page of Post’s website about the RN to BSN program, and I got sidetracked and started researching Post for myself!” Tara submitted an information request form to American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and received a call two days later from a student success advisor. Within a week, she had submitted transcripts and materials for the BSN program via SIMPath®.
Post Makes it Personal
Tara started the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing at American Sentinel at Post University in May 2024. When she completes the program in May 2025, she’s considering earning the Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Education Specialization at Post. “I think as I finish these BSN classes, I’ll have a better idea which route I’d like to take.”
Tara’s experience at American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University has exceeded her expectations. “Being in the BSN program has given me an increase in knowledge of things like community health nursing and research and the tools to apply that knowledge into practice. It’s allowing me to grow as a nurse 30 years into my career.” Another highlight: the enthusiastic support of Post’s advisors, professors and staff. “The tagline ‘Post Makes It Personal®’ really is so true. Everyone at Post is so connected to students’ desires to further their education. I have had a wonderful experience.”