After earning two nursing diplomas, a bachelor’s degree, a master of Business Administration as well as a Master of Science in Nursing from American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University, Heather Lehman still finds herself in awe of her own journey. With each milestone, she has proven that determination knows no limits. Even with her latest achievement, the reality of how far she’s come sometimes feels surreal.
The lifelong resident of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, came from a family of hard workers—her father drove concrete trucks, and her mother worked as a custodian and a bartender—but she was the first in her immediate family to think about attending college. “I was interested in healthcare at a young age and worked as a volunteer emergency medical technician,” says Heather. After high school, she explored educational options that were affordable and close to home, which led her to the vocational technical school in town. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 1993.
Getting Her Start
For seven years, Heather worked as an LPN in a dementia unit and in a long-term care center. Then she joined Lewistown Hospital in 2000, working in oncology and orthopedics. When the hospital opened a School of Nursing in 2005 to offer a nursing diploma program, she took advantage. “I was part of the first class of diploma nurses,” says Heather.
After graduating in 2008, Heather moved into the operating room (OR) as a staff nurse at Lewistown Hospital. That led to an opportunity to expand her skills as a perioperative educator, a role in which she coordinated educational department-specific requirements for the OR’s nurses and surgical techs. In 2012, Heather became the patient care director for surgical services.
Back for a BSN and an MBA
Heather’s new leadership role required that she start a bachelor of science in nursing program. She enrolled in the online BSN program at The Pennsylvania State University, with which Lewistown School of Nursing had a cooperative agreement for its diploma nursing graduates. In 2013—the same year Heather graduated with the BSN—Lewistown Hospital became part of the Geisinger Health System.
With more education came more opportunities for Heather. She was promoted to interim clinical director of the Western region surgical sites. That got her thinking about earning a master’s degree. “I was seeing that many nurse leaders were doing dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration degrees,” Heather says. No such program was available nearby, but a healthcare-focused MBA program through another nearby University was and Heather enrolled and graduated with an MBA degree in December 2019. Along the way, her interim director position became permanent and extended her responsibilities.
American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University
In early 2020, Heather felt the urge to earn a Master of Science in Nursing. “A lot of people at Geisinger were going to American Sentinel [University], and Geisinger employees received tuition reimbursement and a reduced price due to our educational partnership,” she says.
While she was in school mode, she decided to go for it. Heather chose the Master of Science in Nursing – Infection Prevention and Control Specialization. “As part of my move into the regional director of nursing position, I oversee an ambulatory surgical center, and I’m in charge of clinical quality and risk management,” says Heather. “I could have pursued the Master of Science in Nursing – Nursing Management and Organizational Leadership Specialization, but I wanted to challenge myself, compliment my specialty, and put myself ahead.”
Convenient, Affordable, and Worth the Effort
Heather maintained a 4.0 GPA at Post University, and after three years of hard work—while still working at Geisinger—she graduated with the MSN – Infection Prevention and Control Specialization. Her next goal is to pursue a certification in infection prevention and control. “From a regulatory standpoint, that will be a good thing for me to have for my role overseeing infection prevention and control in Geisinger’s western region,” she says.
Heather is glad she earned the MSN degree to enhance her career. “I think this will be the grand finale of my education,” she says. “I’m definitely glad I went to American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University. I’d heard good things from colleagues, and everything I heard was accurate. The program is affordable and convenient, and I worked it around my schedule. I would absolutely recommend it.”