By: Erik Pedersen, Content Strategy Director
BALTIMORE – Elizabeth “Beth” Carbonella had achieved plenty of success in her previous profession. For over a decade, she worked in leadership roles for companies which audited laboratories around the world to confirm that they met required accreditation standards.
Eventually, though, the frequent international travel and lack of a consistent work schedule led Carbonella to explore a career change. She had first considered becoming a nurse during her undergraduate years, and after discovering Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Accelerated 2nd Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, Carbonella decided to make the leap and begin a new professional journey.
Carbonella has been a regular at NDMU’s ABSN Learning Site in Elkridge over the past 15 months, treating her return to the classroom like a full-time job after dropping her two kids off at school in the mornings. Her hard work will soon be rewarded, as she will be recognized with the rest of her graduating class at Friday’s pinning ceremony in LeClerc Theatre on NDMU’s main campus.
Learn more about Carbonella’s journey below, as she discusses her later-in-life career change, her experience in NDMU’s ABSN program, and her plans after graduation:
Talk a bit about your educational and professional background. Where did you earn your first bachelor’s degree, what was your major, and what jobs did you hold after graduation?
I attended Eastern University right outside of Philadelphia. My degree was in mathematics, and I had a minor in secondary education. My first job was as a middle school and high school math teacher, but I didn’t do that for very long. I’ve spent the majority of my career working in the quality and international accreditation realm.
I did that for 16 years, and 14 of those were for a company that works internationally and does accreditations of testing labs all over the world; I traveled across the US and to various other countries. I visited labs and performed audits, I taught training classes on international standards, and worked on International Committees. In my last role, I served as a quality director for an international laboratory system. At the very end, I oversaw 12 labs across the U.S. and Asia which tested a variety of electronic products, including laptops, cell phones, etc.
When did you realize that you might be ready for a career change?
I had looked into becoming a nursing major back when I was an undergrad, but that was going to involve transferring schools, and if I transferred it was going to take me an extra year to graduate. I decided to just get my math degree and try teaching. I taught for two years, and then I actually went back to school and took some prerequisites for nursing again. Then life happened, I found my career and I stayed there for a long time.
During the pandemic, it got to the point where I was traveling 3-4 times per month, and when you work internationally you might have calls at all hours of the day. You don’t have an eight-hour work day – you are kind of on call all the time. I realized that I needed something different and I needed to make a change.
That’s when the idea of becoming a nurse came back into my mind. It’s something I had always wanted to do. It would not require me to travel and be away from home, and it seemed like a nice opportunity to create a work-life balance that I had been missing.
What was it that led to your initial interest in nursing?
I’ve always had this fascination with the human body, and I’m a people person. To me, nursing combines those things. You have to know the anatomy and physiology of the human body – you have to understand how those things work. But then there’s also that face-to-face interaction that’s so important in nursing. I’m not going to just say something to a patient and walk away. You need to be able to interact with them on a personal level.
What inspired you to enroll in Notre Dame’s ABSN program?
I live right in Howard County, close to the Elkridge campus, and I liked that the program offered the opportunity to finish in 15 months. I’m a single mom with two kids, and I was quitting my old career to enroll. I needed something that was short, sweet, and to the point to finish quickly, and that was exactly what this program offered.
What was it like transitioning back to being a student? Did you enjoy your experience in the program?
I was used to being out of my house and working in an office from 9 to 5. Because I lived so close to Elkridge, I treated this as my full-time job for the last 15 months. Especially in the first and second semesters, there were a lot of days where I just showed up to campus, found a study room, and sat there the entire time my kids were in school and did my schoolwork. I had to dedicate that time to it, because I knew when I was home in the evening I wasn’t going to have that opportunity.
I definitely had moments where I had to humble myself into being a student again after coming from a leadership role. Everybody that works in this program, though, is so knowledgeable, so kind, and so willing to help; I can’t say enough good things about them. I was that person who would just pop in to their office and say, ‘Hey, I’m working on this assignment, can I run some ideas by you for a minute?’ They were always willing to take the time to help.
It’s been an awesome experience – I was able to meet so many people that I hope to stay in touch with for many years to come.
Where did your clinical rotations take place, and did they help you obtain a full-time position after graduation?
I was at Greater Baltimore Medical Center [GBMC], Sinai Hospital, Anne Arundel Medical Center, and then this semester I’ve been at the University of Maryland Medical Center. My clinical instructor at GBMC, Candace, was amazing. She was just one of those people that really pushed us in all of the right ways. She didn’t micromanage, but she was always around to ask and answer questions. My clinical instructors in labor and delivery and pediatrics were really good as well. They were so passionate about their particular areas. I just ended my practicum in the pediatric emergency department at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and I actually will be working full-time there starting in February, so that’s kind of where I found my spot.
Do you have a message for others who might be considering a later in life career change?
Recently I was asked to speak with someone who was interested in a nursing career. This individual was in a similar spot as me – she had a previous career, had kids, but wanted something new. She was interested in NDMU’s ABSN program, but was worried it would not offer enough support. I ended up talking to this woman for an entire drive to Ocean City. I told her that this program, since it is hybrid, does require self-discipline but there is plenty of support! The instructors are great and everyone is accessible – just be proactive and advocate for yourself when you need to.
Like I said, I chose to treat it like a full-time job, which worked for me. But there are a lot of ways to do this, and if you have the desire to make a change it’s not too late in life. Don’t think that you’re too old. It’s challenging to do everything in 15 months, but it’s possible and it’s definitely worth it.
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
