From Nursing Student to Nurse Educator

After earning her BSN from the University of Louisville School of Nursing in 2019, Ashley Stadelman returned to campus with a new purpose: helping shape the next generation of nurses. Today, she balances a career in emergency medicine with a role as part-time faculty and has recently completed her MSN in Nursing Leadership at UofL.

In this Q&A, she reflects on her journey from student to educator, the mentors who helped shape her path, and how UofL Nursing has prepared her for the next chapter of her career in nursing education and leadership.

UofL: What is your connection to UofL School of Nursing?

A.S.: I graduated from UofL with my BSN in 2019. I came back in fall 2022 to teach clinicals and have been part-time faculty ever since. Last year, I made the jump into graduate school, and [I finished my] MSN in Nursing Education and Leadership this year.

UofL: What degree/program were you in and why did you choose to pursue it?  

A.S.: I [was] in the MSN program with a focus in Nursing Education and Leadership. I chose it because my goal is to move into a full-time faculty role. The program has given me real tools to prepare for that, and I have grown so much as an educator and leader.

UofL: You also work in a hospital environment. Where do you work and what is your role there?

A.S.: I work for a local travel agency in adult and pediatric emergency medicine. The ER was my first home in nursing, and I'm thankful I've found a role that gives me flexibility, fulfillment, and a continuous learning environment. 

UofL: What has been the most surprising thing so far about your education journey?

A.S.: I knew UofL had a lot to offer, but I didn't realize how much of it I'd actually get to be part of. I've taught clinicals, labs, and simulations. I've worked with prospective undergraduate and graduate students through onboarding. I have served on program advisory committees to develop impactful policies. I have worked with high school students on college readiness, middle schoolers on basic nursing skills, and obtained my BLS Instructor certification to educate the community, all through UofL Nursing programs. I've also had the opportunity to take part in personal research. The range of it all caught me off guard, and I could not be more thankful. 

UofL: If you could describe your experience at the School of Nursing in three words, what would they be and why? 

A.S.: Supported, transformative, exciting. Supported because every faculty member I've worked with has actually invested time in me, not just signed off on requirements. Transformative because the program changed how I think about my own career and opportunities for self-growth. Exciting because I genuinely don't know what door it's going to open next.

UofL: Who has been your biggest influence or mentor at the University of Louisville, and how have they impacted you? 

A.S.: This is by far the hardest one to answer because so many people have shaped me along the way. As a BSN student, Dr. Imelda Wright and Dr. Paul Clark were like adopted parents to me and have been my biggest supporters in the workplace ever since. As I grew into a part-time lecturer role, I leaned on advisors like Dr. Melissa Barnes, and Dr. Becky Gesler to grow into a confident educator. In my master's program, I've learned from faculty, Dr. Said Abusalem and Dr. Karen Turner, about leadership, research, and development processes. And I owe a lot to Dr. Heather Mitchell, who took a chance on me when I responded to her social media post asking to be a clinical instructor less than a month before the fall semester started in 2022. I look up to her as one of the best examples of the type of nurse leader and educator I aspire to be. What stands out across all of them is that everyone genuinely wants to see students succeed and grow, and they'll go out of their way to help you get there.

UofL: What is your dream job after you graduate the MSN program?

A.S.: My dream job post-graduation is to work full-time as faculty at UofL School of Nursing. The idea of teaching my own course, and being part of a program that I know my values align with and has invested so much in me already, is so exciting. I'm especially drawn to curriculum development and working with the clinical simulation center, but I have found that the opportunities are endless at UofL!

UofL: What advice would you give to prospective students who are interested in pursuing a degree in nursing? 

A.S.: Figure out what makes you excited to get up in the morning and what fills you up at the end of a hard day; then actively pursue those things. Nursing school is hard, and being a nurse is harder, but when you care about the work you do and believe you're making a difference, the good outweighs the bad by a lot. The most challenging days end up being part of what makes the career worth it.

UofL: Outside of nursing, what are some of your hobbies or interests? 

A.S.: Outside of nursing, my biggest passion is raising my two daughters, Rosie and Lilli, to be strong, smart, and kind individuals. My best days are the ones spent outside with them in the sunshine.