Dency Louis is like any other Lakeland resident. She works fulltime, takes care of her family, and does her best to stay involved with the community. Louis recently enrolled in Keiser University Lakeland’s Associate of Science in Nursing degree program, which has already made significant changes in the way she thinks about her future.

Louis has worked in the healthcare world for over seven years, so she is intimately familiar with the sacrifice and dedication that comes with being a nurse.

“I see the difference that nurses make. I want to be a part of that,” Louis said.

The Associate of Science in Nursing degree program at Keiser University’s College of Nursing provides a pathway for students who want to become registered nurses. The curriculum addresses critical thinking, assessment and therapeutic communication skills, health promotion and maintenance, and competent nursing care. Students learn how to administer medication and treatment to patients. The program includes study of general principles of biological, psychological, physical, and social sciences. Students will also participate in clinical experiences, which provide the hands-on training they will need to succeed in their career. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure to practice as a registered nurse.

Louis embarked on her Keiser University journey in late 2022, and said that so far, her experience has been exceptional. She commended the Lakeland staff and faculty for taking such good care of her, answering every one of her questions.

After earning her Associate’s of Science in Nursing degree, Louis said that she would like to continue her education with Keiser University and enroll in the next level degree program to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. These degrees will give her the ability to provide for her community and provide for her family back in Haiti.

Louis is a recipient of the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant, a grant created in 1979 and renamed in 2018 that provides tuition assistance to undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs at eligible independent, nonprofit colleges or universities in Florida.

“[The EASE grant] has helped me a lot. I’m a single parent, and I work full time… so this has taken a load off of me,” Louis said. “Because books are expensive, and classes are expensive, so it has really helped me.”

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in providing Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2023.