Although Kate Pedigo finds herself traveling across Indiana at high altitudes in an air ambulance for work, her nursing career remains well-grounded from the education she received through IUSON BL’s RN to BSN Online Degree Completion Option.

“I chose the RN to BSN program in Bloomington because the school has a really good reputation, and the online format gave me much more flexibility with my schedule,” says Kate.

IUSON’s RN to BSN Degree Completion Options offers working nurses with an ASN the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing in one to three years via a flexible online program of study. IUSON’s RN to BSN Online Degree Completion is specifically designed to help working nurses achieve their career goals, while maintaining a healthy work-life-school balance.

Kate began her nursing career as a paramedic, then transitioned to the Labor and Delivery department at Bloomington’s hospital. Although she loved bedside nursing, Kate knew that she would eventually want to expand her options and pursue leadership positions and other opportunities. And for that, she would need her BSN.

As with many students, money was an issue for Kate when she decided to go back to school. Already saddled with debt from a prior enrollment at IU, “I vowed not to take out any more student loans, but I was worried I would have to withdraw money from my savings,” she says. As a working nurse, Kate was committed to continuing her education, while not incurring additional debt. She quickly realized that meant she needed to pick up as many shifts as she could at the hospital, leaving her to juggle as many work hours as possible while going to school.

This past spring, Kate was surprised – and pleased – to find out that her Uncle Mark had taken note of her accomplishments and decided to honor her by funding a scholarship at IUSON BL in her name.

“My uncle knows how much my job means to me,” say Kate. “He knows how much I’ve committed to furthering my education, and how hard I had to work to get my degree. The fact that this scholarship can support another nurse who is working just as hard is awesome.”  Ask members of our faculty what they think of Kate and the new scholarship, and they say:

•  “Oh, wow! Kate was a medic when I worked in the ED. She is a wonderful human being.” – Lecturer Deb Smith

•  “Top notch.” – Professor Deanna Reising

•  “I have known Kate since she started her nursing career. She worked with us in OB here at Bloomington before moving on to emergency medicine. She is indeed a wonderful nurse! I am so happy this scholarship is being established in her honor.” – Lecturer Ronda Hendricks

Kate says she knows just how difficult it is to work and go to school at the same time. She is thrilled about the new Kate Pedigo Scholarship and would love to see it awarded to someone like her: a nurse who works closely with patients and is returning to school to pursue a BSN. Kate also feels that her Uncle Mark started the scholarship, not only to recognize her hard work, but to show support for everything that nurses do.

“When the pandemic started, everyone was thinking about what they could do to help. I think this scholarship is my Uncle Mark’s way of saying thank you,” she says.