Ashika Dickerson

Why I Chose the Program 

I decided to pursue the online program because it was very conducive for my family’s schedule. And it's something that I know is really needed in our community. I didn't have a set time for classes that I may miss because I had to work late or do something with the kids. Being able to go online anytime of the day and night and really reach out to the professors, who were very personable and were able to reach out to me also. It just made it very conducive for my family. 

Placement Support Experience 

Placement support, I cannot say anything bad about it. It was awesome. They communicated back and forth with me to let me know where they were with the placement. They found the placement for me. It was just seamless. The semesters that I needed to get my hours were stress-free because I knew where I was going to go, and it just worked out. It was awesome. 

Cost and Flexibility 

The cost and flexibility were the top things for me. Being able to access this type of program, the magnitude of what I would be doing, but also to feel confident that I was actually prepared for it for the price, was amazing. 

Advice for Prospective Students 

It’s a great place to study. There's a lot of support with the Writing Center and with the librarians. If you have any question, they'll reach out. They'll follow up with you. The professors were very interactive with us throughout the program. As long as you're honest with yourself and you're actually putting in the work it’s definitely doable. 

Confidence and Preparation 

I feel really confident that I've been prepared for what I need to do in the psych mental health nurse practitioner realm. I am very happy that I went through this program. I've done other online programs before, and I didn't feel as prepared as I did from Wilkes—and I passed my boards! 

So I definitely feel confident that I'm ready to pursue a career as a psych nurse practitioner. I will advocate for the psych community, help assist with getting more programs for urban cities, young adults, and really change the face of psych mental health care.