From ASN to DNP: Why Two Nurses Chose SHU for Every Step of Their Education

A strong foundation, dedicated faculty, and a lasting sense of community helped two nursing alumni grow into advanced practice leaders

Key Highlights 

• Sacred Heart University offers nursing pathways that allow students to progress from an Associate in Nursing degree to advanced practice and doctoral-level education. 
• Nursing alumni Adelicia Beltz ’26 and Lauren Violette ’24 continued at SHU through the Doctor of Nursing Practice program after beginning their nursing education in the University’s associate degree program. 
• Both alumni credit SHU’s dedicated faculty, personalized mentorship and supportive community with helping them advance academically and professionally. 
• Beltz is a board-certified family nurse practitioner working in outpatient primary care, while Violette works in surgery and has earned psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification. 
• SHU’s nursing programs prepare students to strengthen their clinical expertise, pursue advanced credentials and grow into health care leadership roles. 

For many students, choosing where to continue their education is a major decision, one that is shaped by academic goals, career aspirations, and the community they hope to find along the way. For Sacred Heart University nursing alumni Adelicia Beltz ’26 and Lauren Violette ’24, the decision became clear after their first experience with the University.

Both began their nursing journeys through SHU’s Associate in Nursing (ASN) program and continued their education through advanced degrees, ultimately earning their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees. Along the way, they found a consistent source of support, mentorship, and academic excellence that encouraged them to continue growing as health care professionals.

Their journeys highlight what makes Sacred Heart’s nursing programs unique: the ability for students to build their education while remaining connected to a community that knows and supports them every step of the way.

Finding a Nursing Community at SHU

Beltz, who now works at Primary Care of Shelton as a DNP-prepared, board-certified family nurse practitioner practicing in out-patient primary care, always knew she wanted a career centered around helping others. After working in several health care related roles, she decided to return to school and pursue nursing, beginning with the ASN program.

From the beginning, Beltz saw her ASN experience as the foundation for a larger goal. She wanted to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and valued the importance of developing strong clinical skills and growing one step at a time. After beginning her ASN journey at SHU, she found the support and education she needed to continue advancing her career at Sacred Heart.

“I loved learning, I loved nursing, and I had complete confidence in the education, mentorship, and values of the University,” she said. “I trusted the faculty, appreciated the supportive culture, and felt that I was receiving an exceptional education.”

For Violette, who now works in surgery for South County Hospital in Rhode Island, SHU was also the starting point for her transition into nursing. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, she chose the ASN program as a practical pathway into health care.

“SHU’s ADN program offered an efficient, practical pathway that allowed me to enter the workforce and start making an impact in just two years,” Violette said. “SHU gave me such a strong foundation from day one, and it made complete sense to continue advancing my career with the institution that invested so much in my growth and success.”

A Culture of Support Through Every Degree

As Beltz and Violette progressed from associate-level nursing education to doctoral-level study, both said one of the biggest factors that kept them at SHU was the consistency of support they received from faculty and staff.

“What stood out to me most was consistency,” Beltz said. “Although each program became increasingly rigorous and challenged me in new ways, one thing never changed, the faculty’s genuine commitment to their students.”

That support extended beyond the classroom. Beltz said professors celebrated student successes, helped navigate challenges, and encouraged students to reach their full potential.

Violette experienced that same sense of connection as she advanced through the DNP-FNP program and later completed her psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification.

“The professors and advisers didn’t just see me as another student passing through; they treated my education as a continuous journey,” Violette said.

She emphasized that faculty members understood her background, supported her goals, and continued to provide guidance throughout her academic journey.

More Than a Degree

For both alumni, their connection to SHU extends beyond earning degrees.

In 2026, Beltz experienced a special milestone when she and her son both graduated from SHU just days apart. Beltz completed her DNP while her son earned his undergraduate degree, allowing them to celebrate each other’s accomplishments through Sacred Heart's commencement traditions.

“Sacred Heart came to mean much more than the university where I earned my degrees; it became part of our family’s story,” Beltz said.

For Violette, SHU became a place where she built lasting relationships with mentors who continue to support her today.

“There are professors that I am in touch with to this day who continue to offer advice, support, and celebrate each of my accomplishments,” she said.

Continuing the SHU Nursing Legacy

When reflecting on their journeys, both alumni hope future students recognize the value of continuing their education at Sacred Heart.

Violette encourages students to look beyond earning a degree and consider the community they will gain along the way.

“Students won’t just find a program that checks each box to graduate, but they will find a community that genuinely invests in their long-term success,” she said.

For Beltz, completing her journey from ASN to DNP represents years of commitment, growth, and support from the SHU community.

“Believe in yourself, trust the process, and do not underestimate what you are capable of accomplishing,” Beltz said. “Sacred Heart University did not simply provide me with an education, it helped shape who I am.”

Learn more about Sacred Heart’s nursing programs and discover how SHU can support you at every stage of your nursing education from your first steps in the field to advanced practice and beyond.

Pictured, from left: Adelicia Beltz ’26 with President John Petillo on graduation day; Beltz in the nursing lab; and Lauren Violette ’24