"Remember that self-care is a crucial component to successfully reaching your goals. Always strive to be the kind of nurse that you would want if you were a patient yourself."
Degrees Held:
Career Highlights:
Katy Mooney is the Course Coordinator for both Psychiatric Nursing and Professional Nursing at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Prior to her current position, she worked for an inpatient acute behavioral health unit at Augusta University in roles varying from staff nurse to charge nurse, and twice served as interim nurse manager. Katy also has experience working hospice, neonatal intensive care, and home health nursing. She has spent her entire career focused on helping people, especially historically diverse populations, overcome challenges and stereotypes to improve their overall health and well-being. In 2018, Katy contributed a chapter discussing communication basics and challenges, which was published in the third edition of “Telephone Triage for Obstetrics & Gynecology” by Vicki Long and Patricia McMullen.
In which online degree program do you teach?
Which classes do you teach online?
Professional Nursing
What is the value of a BSN?
Nursing has been a solid career path for many years, and I do not foresee this trend slowing down any time soon. Earning your BSN is one of the smartest things you can do for your nursing career. Not only are there major salary differences between people with an RN and a BSN, but more importantly, BSN-prepared nurses have been linked to better patient outcomes. As a BSN holder, nurses will have learned much more—communication, critical thinking and leadership skills. These are essential skills if you want to move into higher paying jobs with more responsibility.
What advice would you give to those considering the online RN to BSN program?
Keep the lines of communication open and ask your professors for help when you have questions. Remember that self-care is a crucial component to successfully reaching your goals. Always strive to be the kind of nurse that you would want if you were a patient yourself.
What do you think is the biggest challenge that nurses face today?
One of the biggest challenges in the nursing profession is the process of self-reflection and recognizing our own stereotypes and biases. Once this has been achieved, nurses are better equipped to gain empathy and provide optimal and nonjudgmental care for all clients.
Why did you start teaching?
My psychiatric nursing professor made a significant impact on my professional endeavors. She presented the role of being an educator as much more than teaching, and I was inspired to one day do the same. There is a distinctive gratification that comes from mentoring, modeling professional nursing, witnessing individual growth and transformation, and encouraging life-learning.
