Gloria E. Barrera leads the charge in nursing education as RN to BSN Program Co-Director

Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN, is a dedicated and accomplished nurse leader who serves on local and national boards to champion health equity and drives progress in the field of nursing. As Co-Director of the online RN to BSN Program University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Gloria brings extensive knowledge and experience to the role. She continues her practice as a public health nurse working at a public high school in the Chicago Suburbs.   

With over 16 years of experience in nursing and academia, Gloria was drawn to join UIC’s online RN to BSN program for its educational excellence under Kate Tredway’s leadership. In addition to discussing her goals as Co-Director and offering valuable advice to prospective students, Gloria highlights the value of mentorship and lifelong learning in achieving career success. Furthermore, Gloria is actively involved in an exciting project aimed at promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare education and practice. 

In recognition of her leadership, Gloria was honored as Nurse Influencer of the Year by ANA-Illinois, marking her as the first school nurse to receive this prestigious accolade for her policy and advocacy efforts. During her tenure as president of the Illinois Association of School Nurses, Gloria spearheaded transformative initiatives such as the School Nurse Toolkit on Vaccines and successfully advocated for funding a state study on school nurse capacity. 

Can you give an overview of your background and experience in nursing and academia? 

I have been a nursing instructor since 2013, teaching both online and didactic courses at various universities. Additionally, I have developed several online graduate courses. My clinical specialty lies in public health nursing, and I have served as a subject matter expert in school nursing, school health, and advocacy in nursing. 

What motivated you to join UIC’s online RN to BSN program, and what sets it apart from others in terms of curriculum, faculty expertise, and opportunities for students? 

What interested me the most in joining UIC’s online RN-BSN program was increasing the pipeline of skilled and knowledgeable nurses equipped to meet the evolving demands of healthcare. 

Nursing improves the health of individuals, families, and communities. It addresses social determinants of health and minimizes health disparities, advances innovative and effective health delivery models, plus provides evidence-based nursing care. Nurses need the skills and knowledge to meet healthcare challenges.  Kate Tredway and I are pleased that UIC is consistently recognized as a leader in providing registered nurses with a fully online, high-quality RN to BSN pathway to achieve their professional goals. 

What goals do you have as the Co-Director for the online RN to BSN program? 

One of my initial goals was to enhance the curriculum to ensure it aligned with the latest AACN Essentials:  Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, which we’re on track to fully implement by Fall 2024.  Moving to the Essentials and competency-based education will support students to achieve their full potential, fostering a collaborative learning environment, and encourages continuous learning to address the evolving needs of healthcare. Additionally, I aim to integrate innovative teaching methods and expand access to resources that promote academic and professional success for all of our students. 

What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering the online RN to BSN program at UIC? 

First, congratulations on taking the first step toward advancing your nursing career by considering the online RN BSN program at UIC!  Familiarize yourself with the curriculum, and specific requirement for admission, all found on our website.  Evaluate your time management skills as our program required strong self-discipline and time management, get ready to balance coursework with your professional and personal responsibilities.  Next, think about how you may integrate your existing experience with the academic knowledge you’ll gain.  Be prepared to share real-world examples in your assignments, and discussions.  UIC offers various resources, including exceptional academic advisors, make sure to take advantage of these to enhance your learning and seek support when needed.  Lastly, be prepared for a rigorous academic experience that will expand your expertise and professional capabilities as a nurse.  Engage with your instructors and fellow students to enrich your educational experience, and you will be successful!  

What is the most important thing you have learned about having a successful career that you would like to pass on to people considering this field? 

The most important lesson I’ve learned for a successful career is the value of mentorship. Find mentors who can provide support and insight based on their experiences.  A great mentor can help navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and foster your professional growth. Additionally, be open to continuous learning. I see myself as a lifelong learner and encourage my students to adopt the same approach. 

Tell us about an exciting project you are working on right now. 

Currently, I’m involved in an exciting project preparing for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Minority Health Conference coming this fall. I represent nursing on the IDPH Diversity in Health Care Task Force and am collaborating with the planning committee that’s organizing the summit. We’re inviting institutions, including UIC, to participate in discussions on equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare education and practice. The summit will address the impact of the 2023 SCOTUS ruling on race-conscious admissions and facilitate sharing of best practices among institutions. It’s a dynamic opportunity to foster collaboration and advance efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce. I am committed to advancing the nursing profession by advocating for health equity and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including policy and advocacy efforts.  My goal is to seamlessly integrate these into our program’s curriculum and practices, thereby supporting the professional development of our students while promoting a more inclusive and equitable academic environment.