For Lainah Heeter, nursing is more than a career. It’s her calling.
In the neurological intensive care unit at Community Hospital in Munster, Indiana, Lainah Heeter tends to critical patients with the confidence that comes from combining cutting-edge education with real-world experience. As she monitors patients and makes evidence-based clinical decisions, she’s putting to immediate use her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from IU Northwest.
Heeter earned her B.S.N. in December 2024 while working a minimum of three 12-hour shifts per week as a critical care nurse in neurology at Community. Taking classes while working converged into an intensive and rewarding experience.
When coursework meets patient care
“Pursuing the two paths together gave an enormous boost to my professional development. What I learned in school translated into what I do every day at work. Pharmacology. All different kinds of medicines and their side effects.
“Coursework in morals and ethics, rules, state regulations. When I’m called on to use artificial life-sustaining interventions like feeding tubes and breathing tubes I make morally sound, evidence-based clinical choices for my patients.”
Two-way learning: faculty and colleagues
“The faculty in my program have been wonderful and so supportive. Sharon Imes has been amazing. My colleagues at work are equally supportive. My intensivist, Farrukh Chaudhry, M.D., has been especially encouraging and inspiring. And he’s proud I’m going back to school for my Master’s.”
School and work combined to enrich the experience. “For my capstone project I researched the impact of turn clocks on pressure ulcer development. My online class Nursing and Evidence-Based Practice dovetailed with my work alongside Community Hospital Chief Nursing Officer and VP for Patient Services Ronda McKay, herself a graduate of the IU School of Nursing. I felt she was invested in my personal and educational growth.” Of the practitioner’s role, McKay says, “It’s important for us to facilitate the growth of our future leaders and take an active role in their learning as well as an interest in their careers.”
Online learning: a practical solution for working adults
Students motivated each other. “In class, the demographic range was enormous: men, women, professionals established in their careers. People with families and kids. New graduates. All working in different medical fields and settings. Hospice. Dialysis. Our experiences expanded our learning and helped me think even more broadly. It’s inspiring to see people with the drive to learn, to better themselves and the lives of others.”
IU Northwest: opportunities online and on campus
“Though I’m close IU Northwest, I couldn’t have pursued my B.S.N without the online program. I needed flexibility to work full time and take classes. I learned online and on site from top experts in neuro critical care. Thanks to the online program, I maintained all the aspects of my life that nourish me personally and professionally.”
Heeter continues to work full time in the ICU while pursuing her M.S. in Nursing–Family Nurse Practitioner. The program doesn’t start until January 2026, but IU Northwest is working with her. She’ll take her first class this summer and two more in fall, graduating in spring 2028. This summer she has a special in-person experience at IU Northwest. “I love to teach. I’ll be a support person in an on-campus nursing simulation lab, helping other students learn the basics.”
Dream career in action
“What I learned at Community brought to life the science of my classwork. I’m so thankful for my online faculty and the dedicated medical practitioners at Community. All inspire me to work harder and become a better nurse. There’s nothing I’d rather do. It’s the coolest job in the world. The sky’s the limit!”
Giving back to Indiana
As she pursues her dream career, Heeter helps potential new students see the career promise and rewards of a degree from the IU School of Nursing. And she makes an important local impact. Assistant Professor and Director of the B.S.N. program Sharon Imes says, “Many of our students, like Lainah, live and work right here in Indiana, giving back to the communities they serve. When these nurses earn their B.S.N., they bring advanced knowledge that leads to healthier outcomes, improved safety, and reduced risk for patients. We are so grateful for our graduates who not only grow in their profession but also contribute to improving the health and well-being of our local communities.”
Leave a Reply