In 2019, as William Peace University prepared to welcome the first cohort to its online RN to BSN program, Jason Wilson ’20 was working as a nurse at WakeMed when he met a member of the University’s admissions team. He had been in nursing for 9 years and was ready for more career opportunities than his associate’s degree alone could provide. Peace’s program, with its flexibility for working nurses and faculty dedicated to supporting students earning a BSN, creates pathways to career advancement that wouldn’t otherwise be possible for professionals like Wilson.
“It was strongly encouraged for us nurses to have bachelor’s degrees,” he said. “Without one, your opportunities for upward mobility are significantly limited. I was at a point in my career where I was ready for something more. I had worked at two hospitals in three departments, mostly in bedside care. It felt like the universe was being fortuitous when [Peace’s admissions team] showed up at a recruiting event and I went and talked to them.”
Although he hesitated to return to school because he wanted to focus on his daughter’s college journey, Peace’s program came at the right time, offering a straightforward admissions process with ample support.
“I tell people all the time; I’ve never had an admissions process as easy as Peace made it,” Wilson said. “I’d faced many obstacles before, especially when applying to a similar RN to BSN program at another school. I thought, ‘this is too easy.’ I knew Peace wanted me to succeed, especially as part of the first cohort.”
The program challenged Wilson, who hadn’t been in a classroom in nearly a decade. At first, he was overwhelmed by the amount of information and had to relearn how to be a student. Peace’s faculty and staff guided him every step of the way, helping him build confidence, identify what he enjoyed most, and understand how he learned best.
“Everyone in the faculty and staff was incredible — knowledgeable, easy to talk to, available, and willing to spend extra time to help us do our best,” Wilson said. “The hybrid nursing classes, where we met once a week at Peace or UNC Rex for applied learning assessments, helped me succeed. I discovered I learn best when doing something tangible.”
After graduating in 2020, Wilson was confident he could take the next step he had long desired. He applied the research and statistics skills he learned to a new role in WakeMed’s informatics department, advancing to a more administrative position.
“It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” he said. “I do data analysis, optimization, and workflow creation — no two days are the same. While I’m not directly serving patients anymore, if I can make the job easier on the IT side for my colleagues, that benefits over 600 nurses a day, each caring for anywhere from 2 to 8 patients. That’s where my fulfillment comes from.”
Enhancing Student Success through Strategic Partnerships
All students in Peace’s online RN to BSN program are working nurses seeking a bachelor’s degree to advance their careers. Some want to become nurse practitioners; others aim for more administrative roles; and some plan to pursue graduate school. To encourage nurses in the Triangle, Peace has formed strategic partnerships with local healthcare facilities to define program outcomes.
“We have partnerships with WakeMed, Duke, and UNC Rex, as well as all the other UNC hospitals in the area,” Erica Jastrow, RN to BSN department chair, said. “Representatives from each facility serve on the program’s advisory board, gaining direct insight into the program’s performance and an avenue to share what they’re hearing from their nurses. Students who come to us from those facilities also receive a small tuition discount, bringing the program cost to under $200 per credit hour.”
Most partnering healthcare facilities require nurses to earn a BSN within a set timeframe after starting employment. Because of the program’s reputation for preparing nurses for advanced careers, partners confidently recommend Peace, knowing graduates will have the skills to excel.
“Because we are so supportive and known for providing students with a great experience, partners like WakeMed unequivocally recommend that their nurses talk to Peace when exploring BSN options,” Jastrow said. “They know the nurses will get a response and will have a great experience at Peace — they’re very confident in saying that.”
Among the 2026 RN to BSN graduates so far, 100% of respondents said the program prepared them for leadership roles or further education. Eighty percent have received a promotion or applied for a new job, and 20% plan to. Sixty percent plan to pursue a graduate degree in nursing. These statistics show that the program’s focus on preparing students for career success is paying off, and healthcare partners notice.
“Peace’s program is special because of the support and the confidence students gain,” Jastrow said. “When students gain confidence in themselves, they’re more willing to apply for new things or pursue new opportunities because they have the confidence to take on new challenges.”
Developing Skills for Lifelong Learning
The skills Wilson gained through the RN to BSN program prepared him for career development beyond a single promotion. He now conducts research, travels to conferences, and gives presentations to educate others — opportunities that Peace’s program specifically prepared him for.
“My research class really prepared me,” he said. “I tell everybody — get your bachelor’s degree. It won’t make you a better nurse; you’ve already learned the basics from your associate’s. But it will make you a better thinker, leader, and advocate. Peace taught me how to view research, data, and evidence objectively. It also taught me how to be a leader beyond statistics and research.”
Wilson has presented at numerous statewide and national conferences, including the 2026 North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders (NCONL) Annual Conference in April, where his project, Transforming Care Through Leadership: Embedding the 4Ms in Epic, was accepted for the poster gallery.
“I enjoy presenting; I like getting up and talking in front of a room full of people,” Wilson said. “It’s kind of like another job for me. It’s a chance to showcase my research, brag on my institution, and show that I worked on awesome projects. Without the degree, my opportunities to do that would have been very limited.”
Today, Wilson looks back on his time at Peace as a pivotal moment in his career, one that prepared him to set new goals and continue growing in his field.
“It’s probably one of the most reluctant yet best decisions I ever made,” he said. “I always told myself I didn’t need a bachelor’s degree, but now I’ve found much more upward mobility and leadership opportunities. I’m very grateful that Peace representatives came to WakeMed, and I just happened to be here on the right day to talk to them and fill out the application.”
