Cleveland Clinic nurse earning BSN online from BGSU to launch career in London

Jordan Jones worked full-time as an ICU nurse while obtaining her bachelor's degree 100% online

By Branden Ferguson

After working her way from a state-tested nurse assistant (STNA) to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and then a registered nurse (RN), Jordan Jones had built a successful career in the ICU at Cleveland Clinic. Wanting more, Jones enrolled in the 100% online RN to BSN program at Bowling Green State University.

Halfway through the program, a life-changing professional door swung open: a position at Cleveland Clinic London. The move was a dream come true – a professional milestone, the opportunity for her and her husband to relocate to his home country and the chance for her to build a stronger connection with her in-laws.

"My husband is originally from England, and a lot of his family is still over there," said Jones. "We always wanted to move back over there and have the chance to get to know family I haven't had the chance to spend time with. This opportunity makes that dream possible."

However, the international move came with a strict requirement: she needed her BSN in hand, and she needed it much sooner than originally planned.

“I had the opportunity to take an ICU nursing position in London, but I needed to complete my bachelor’s degree first,” Jones said. “Originally, I thought I had until fall. When the deadline moved up to spring – a whole semester sooner – everything changed.”

Carefully balancing coursework with 12-hour ICU shifts that rotated between days and nights, Jones now needed to accelerate her timeline without compromising her performance at work or in the classroom.

Instead of hitting a roadblock, she found a team ready to problem-solve.

She immediately reached out to Lara Wilken, DNP, an associate clinical professor and BGSU RN to BSN coordinator, and Curtis Kachur, her primary BGSU Online advisor. Together, they mapped out a revised academic plan that would allow Jones to meet the earlier graduation requirement.

“All of our team members have completed online programs while working full-time,” Kachur said. “We understand that timelines and goals can change. Once Jordan shared her new plans, I worked as quickly as possible to present her with several solutions. When life happens, we work diligently to align solutions with our students’ immediate needs and long-term goals.”

That flexibility is built into the structure of Bowling Green's online nursing program. Courses are asynchronous, with no required login times, and follow a consistent format designed specifically for working nurses. On average, students spend about six hours per week on coursework, allowing them to break assignments into manageable segments.

For Jones, that structure made acceleration possible.

“My work schedule is chaotic,” she said. “I work 12-hour shifts, sometimes days and sometimes nights. Being able to log in when it works for me – even at odd hours – made all the difference. Despite my abnormal schedule, my professors were incredibly responsive.”

Wilken said this individualized support is intentional.

“Our students join us from diverse locations and life circumstances,” Wilken said. “Each student’s story, goals and challenges matter. We meet them with understanding, compassion and consistent support. Jordan’s situation is a great example of how we partner with students when their goals evolve.”

Now set to graduate this spring, Jones will be able to move to London later this year – stepping into a new role abroad with her BSN completed on time.

“Flexibility is everything for nurses,” Jones said. “Bowling Green was more flexible than I ever imagined. Because of BGSU, I’m not only advancing my career – I’m starting a new chapter of my life in another country.”