Elliot Myers had a simple career goal: help people. That desire coupled with motivation and dedication to education put the University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate on a path to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing, then his Master of Science in Nursing, and, now, a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Elliot, 36, grew up in Palmetto, La., watching his mother, Ginger Myers, care for patients in rural St. Landry Parish as an LPN.
She and Elliot's father, Keith Myers, co-founded LHC Group, a post-acute healthcare company providing home health, hospice, personal care, and facility-based services.
With the family鈥檚 20-year history in the healthcare industry and commitment to Louisiana, Elliot鈥檚 decision to attend UL Lafayette in pursuit of a bachelor of science in nursing degree was a natural new volume in that legacy.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been intrigued with the medical field,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he thought of helping others in a time of need, at some of their hardest moments in life, has always been an intrigue of mine and to see the rewards of helping others is what brought me into nursing.鈥
When he completed his BSN from UL Lafayette in 2005, Elliot began his work as an RN at Lafayette General. After a little more than a year, Elliot moved into home health as a director while continuing to provide patient care. Then he decided he wanted to take his career further.
He soon discovered UL Lafayette鈥檚 Master of Science in Nursing degree program, which offers nurses flexible course schedules through its online delivery.
鈥淯L鈥檚 been home to me,鈥 he says, 鈥渟o after researching and looking at different colleges, the online option was absolutely intriguing to me; it鈥檚 a big difference from similar programs. That was the deciding factor for me.鈥
Like most, Elliot鈥檚 entire higher education learning experience had been on-campus, so he wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect as he prepared to begin the online MSN program in 2011.
But he found supportive professors, engaging peers, and the ability to continue working to support his family 鈥 wife Lainie and their now-11-year-old son 鈥 while advancing his education and career.
鈥淭he autonomy with distance learning was so appealing to me; going at my own pace was great,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t allowed me the flexibility to work and still support my family. It allowed me to learn at my leisure and what time was best for me. The balance of family and still furthering my education was wonderful.鈥
Since graduating from UL Lafayette with his master鈥檚 in 2013 and becoming a nurse practitioner, Elliot has opened two family practice clinics. He currently practices in Washington, La., serving some of the same populations his mother did more than 20 years ago.
鈥淚 enjoy taking care of people,鈥 he says. 鈥淚n family practice, I see all ages of life and am able to take care of their medical needs. I enjoy seeing the rewards of keeping people healthy.鈥
He is now pursuing his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree online through UL Lafayette to, he says, 鈥減ractice at the highest degree I can and give my patients confidence that I鈥檝e attained a level of education adequate for care.鈥
Elliot says he wouldn鈥檛 have been able to continue moving forward without UL Lafayette鈥檚 online option, which has allowed him to advance his career and education, as well as connect with a network of peers.
鈥淲here I鈥檓 at today, I couldn鈥檛 have done without the path I took with the online option,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 had great interaction with my classmates, and with my professors. ... It鈥檚 one of the reasons I went back, because of that online option of how easy it is to be with classmates and work with professors. I still have a lot of friends from these online courses that I see and talk to every week.鈥