Three finish reimagined nursing degree program designed to help with retention, lowering costs on island

Friday’s pinning of the 2025 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) class in 1 CW may have marked the beginning of 56 new nursing careers, but it also marks the successful completion of a first-of-its-kind venture in Mass General Brigham: a pilot program that allowed employees at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to get their nursing degrees through the MGH Institute of Health Professions. 

Rachel Vargas, Jennifer Dudley, Rali Ivanova were beaming with smiles Friday as they became the first graduates of the two-year program. Standing alongside the trio and beaming with pride was Martha’s Vineyard Hospital President and Chief Operating Officer Claire Seguin, who approached the Institute with the pilot program idea a few years ago while she was the hospital’s chief nursing officer. 

“We had a very dedicated group of students here, and the hospital itself was ready to receive and welcome students, recounted Seguin, ticking off reasons why the pilot program worked. “Our nurse leaders, nurses, physicians—everyone—embraced the students wholeheartedly. Living on an island means there are no roads off, so breaking down that barrier and making it possible for most coursework and clinical training to take place on the Vineyard was incredibly meaningful.”

Seguin approached then-nursing dean Ken White with the idea of educating Martha’s Vinyard Hospital (MVH) employees who wanted to become nurses because it would help with nurse retention – the employees were already living on the island – and it would begin to reduce the hospital’s expensive reliance on travelling nurses, who make up about a third of MVH’s 50 fulltime nurses. 

“Every bit helps,” said Seguin. “We’re not just adding three full-time nurses—we’re strengthening long-term retention by investing in people who already live, work, and have roots on the island.”

Staying on the island is Rachel Vargas’ goal. Born at MVH and raised on the island, Vargas is a first-generation college graduate who was Seguin’s executive assistant when she decided to pursue the nursing degree. She says working as a nurse on the island is a full circle moment.  

“I feel incredibly grateful to both the hospital and the MGH Institute,” Vargas said. “Creating this program was such an innovative step, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of it.” 

Ivanova has a degree in engineering but felt drawn to nursing because that’s what her mother and grandmother did. She was introduced to the OB/GYN department when she was pregnant with her first child. When she began working at the front desk at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, that clinched her career change and led to her becoming a medical assistant. 

“I just wanted to be on the clinical side,” said Ivanova, excitedly. “I love taking care of patients, and that's how I took the medical assistant job, and I really wanted to become a nurse. 

“I'm so grateful that I was a part of this program. The program was challenging, but I feel like we were well-integrated, and Zoom classes worked well; we felt we were a part of the classroom. We're very glad to get clinical experience at our hospital where we'll be full-time nurses.”

Jennifer Dudley’s path didn’t follow anything she had seen, but instead, what she felt. 

“I am the first nurse in my entire extended family that I know of,” reflected Dudley. “It wasn't so much as I saw it being done in my family, I just felt this calling from very early on, and I was afraid I missed the boat by going to business school. I thought it was too late. And luckily, the opportunity presented itself, and I was able to fill out this dream that I've had since I was in high school.”

Dudley, who already has a master’s in healthcare administration, says balancing a full-time job and pursuing the nursing degree was the biggest challenge she’s had. She relished how the nursing program covered all specialties, enabling students to see what it would be like to be a nurse in some of the specific specialties. And having clinical experience in various departments within the very hospital they’ll be working in was particularly helpful.

“It was just a very grounded experience; we're really doing it,” said a smiling Dudley. “We weren't just studying in the books; we were out there practicing even when we didn't feel ready. We kind of just dove right in and just started becoming nurses from the beginning of the program.” 

Next up for all three: taking and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), then making an impact by the bedside. Each has something they’re most looking forward to. 

“Being an advocate for patients,” said Ivanova. “That's my goal. I would like to help patients, make them feel better, and just advocate for them.”

Dudley, who was working full-time as an analyst in Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s Process Improvement department, is looking forward to being a hands-on nurse.

“Being on the front line, working with patients directly, and just having that opportunity to make a difference in someone's day. Whether it's even just speaking to them when they're feeling worried or just caring for them in a time of need, it'll just be great to have that connection and that face-to-face interaction. That's what I'm looking forward to.”

Health equity is what drives Vargas. 

“We have a large Brazilian population on the Vineyard,” noted the future nurse. “Because I’m Brazilian and speak the language, I’m really looking forward to opportunities to help improve access to care and make the experience more equitable.” 

As the trio preps for the NCLEX, a new cohort of five Martha’s Vineyard Hospital employees began the ABSN program just last week. Music to Seguin’s ears and eventually, her hospital’s bottom line. 

“That's three less travel nurses we have, and it’s also just so much better for the community and for the patients. 

“I want to underscore just how proud I am of Rali, Rachel, and Jennifer—what they accomplished while continuing to work at the hospital is extraordinary, and they never missed a beat. I’m also deeply grateful to IHP for being flexible and giving us the opportunity to launch this program. In a very short period of time, we’ll have eight nurses working full-time at the hospital, and that truly warms my heart.”