Meet the MSN: Aila Accad

Aila Accad, RN, MSN, 62, of Charleston, WV, has been in the nursing profession for 40 years. Today, the MSN has her own consulting business.

A. I chose nursing over 40 years ago because I was interested in the effects of mind and stress on health. I had started as a candy striper volunteer as a teenager, became a nurses aide and ward clerk in a hospital. My mother wanted me to be a nurse and my dad encouraged college so I went to Villanova University in Villanova, Pa., and started with a bachelor's of science nursing.

The rest is history.

I loved my college experiences. At the time, Villanova was a men's college and nurses were the only females on campus. I loved the diversity in educational subjects and the hands-on experience in a variety of health care settings.

While in college working on my BSN, I received a mental health nursing fellowship. That required me to stay in a mental health nursing role for two years. I worked at Eastern State School and Hospital in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, as head nurse of an autistic children research unit.

After that I worked as a public health nurse, became interested in addiction, went to a conference and was recruited to take a position on a research grant that ultimately evolved the Employee Assistance Profession. In that position, I worked with organizations to help employees get treatment early for addiction issues and other concerns that affect job performance.

When the grant ran out after four years, some of the organizations wanted to continue using my services, so I opened my own consulting business. I have been in private practice speaking, training, coaching, and writing ever since.

A. Nursing is a holistic systems perspective. So, we need to understand all the sciences--biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, human growth and development and all the systems, individual, family, community, organizations.

Nursing is a very diverse profession.

You can work in numerous settings such as the military, schools, communities, hospitals, and more. From birth to end of life care--nurses are always there. Having a BSN and a master's of science nursing opens many doors.

A. I learn something new every day and find new ways to support people in solving their health challenges so they can be happier and fulfill their life purpose.

A. Here are three points to consider.

1. Don't do it just for the money. If you have a passion to help people, nursing is the most diverse and rewarding field you can choose.
2. Be open. Health care roles are changing. Be open to unique ways you can serve people in the changing systems. Don't think of nursing as hospital-based.
3. Set your goal to get your BSN. This is the first level of independent practice. This is what afforded me the flexibility to work in any arena of nursing. Even if you start with an associate's degree and work for a while, plan further your education--at least a BSN and possibly beyond--and always keep learning. Remember, it is possible to earn advanced degrees in nursing through online education programs.

A. I never worked in a hospital institution after graduation from nursing school. I think it is important for nurses to know that only 3 percent of the people who need nurses are in an institution. The rest are in the community.

Today, more and more people want in-home and independent levels of care. Find the population you love to help best and talk with nurses who work in those arenas. Getting a job in nursing is not a problem, even in this economy, especially if you have a BSN or Master's of Science Nursing. My advice is to plan your career as a nurse based on your passion. From the beginning, the right job always found me because of my passion!

A. Advanced degrees allow for expanding nursing research and practice. Each degree affords the nurse more autonomy and authority in a wider variety of practice settings. For example, a bachelor's degree in nursing is required to be a school nurse. To teach in a nursing program, you need a master's degree and in many cases, a doctoral degree. A master's of science nursing can be very useful in helping you to further your career.