Dr. Laura Escobar has been a nurse for over 26 years, a career rooted in service, compassion and a deep desire to improve the lives of others. Throughout her career, she has served families with sick infants and children and, more recently, military veterans. Despite having decades of experience, Dr. Escobar never stopped believing there was more to learn.
“I’ve always considered myself a lifelong learner,” she said.
Born in El Paso, Texas, but raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, for the first 12 years of her life, Dr. Escobar developed a deep appreciation for both cultures. Being bilingual and growing up along the U.S.-Mexico border gave her a unique perspective on caring for diverse populations and connecting with people from different backgrounds.
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Dr. Escobar began what would become a diverse and rewarding nursing career. Over the years, she worked in labor and delivery, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), intensive care and long-term acute care before transitioning into school nursing while raising three sons. She eventually became the lead district school nurse in El Paso, and regardless of where her career took her, she consistently found herself involved in process initiatives and organizational leadership.
That passion for continuous growth eventually led her to Abilene Christian University’s (ACU) online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, where she discovered new ways to translate evidence into practice and strengthen healthcare teams.
Returning to School
Although graduate school had been on her mind for years, life often has other plans. Between building her nursing career and raising a family, returning to school was continually postponed. Once her children were older, however, Dr. Escobar knew it was finally time, but even then, the decision wasn’t immediate.
She spent almost a year considering different educational pathways. Initially, she envisioned pursuing a clinically focused degree after participating in a medical mission trip to West Africa with her church. But as her career continued to evolve and she accepted more leadership responsibilities, she realized her greatest opportunity to make an impact wasn’t solely through direct patient care.
“I felt my sphere of influence had shifted, but it’s also grown,” she explained.
Dr. Escobar shared that she had reached a point in her current role that she could no longer grow and felt that God was calling her toward something greater. After exploring several universities, ACU stood apart. The flexibility of the online format allowed her to continue working full-time while being present for her family. More importantly, she found a university whose values reflected her own.
“I really found that the university and curriculum lived up to and embodied the integration of Christian faith, way of life and lens in my career,” she stated.
Finding Purpose Through Coursework
Returning to school after more than 20 years can be intimidating. “When I found ACU, I thought, ‘This is great,’ even though I was very nervous,” Dr. Escobar recalled.
What surprised her most about ACU wasn’t the curriculum, but the people. From admissions through graduation, she never felt like she was navigating everything alone. Dr. Escobar continued to share how invested the faculty was in her success, particularly during her dissertation process. “No matter what I needed, I knew I could reach out. Whether it was a small issue or something bigger, they would get me the right information and set me up to succeed.”
In addition to resources, faith remained at the core of the program. Rather than separating professional preparation from spiritual growth, Dr. Escobar loved that ACU encouraged students to see both as key components for servant leadership. The integration reaffirmed she had chosen the right university. Throughout the program, Dr. Escobar was introduced to coursework that immediately connected with the challenges she faced every day as a healthcare leader. Topics such as conflict management, organizational leadership and process improvement weren’t simply academic concepts for her, but practical tools that could apply to her current role.
“The focus of the DNP program is translating best practices into real life,” she explained. “If it stays conceptual, it won’t do any good on the front line.”
One of the experiences that had the greatest impact was the DNP project, “Leader Rounding for Outcomes to Improve Employee Retention”, which focused on improving employee retention through the use of leader rounding. A firm believer in servant leadership, Dr. Escobar wanted to explore how intentional leadership practices could strengthen workplace culture, improve employee engagement and ultimately benefit patient care.
Her work earned the 2026 DNP Project Award and she was able to implement it within various departments within her organization. For Dr. Escobar, that represents exactly what doctoral education should accomplish. “Research should not stay on paper. It should improve organizations, strengthen teams and positively influence the people they serve.”
Looking Towards the Future
Graduating with her nursing degree wasn’t the end of Dr. Escobar, but the beginning of a new chapter. She plans to continue growing within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system while remaining open to wherever God leads next. Whether that includes future leadership opportunities, missionary work or continued service through her local church, she hopes to keep using her education to serve communities.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Escobar encourages others who may be considering graduate school to trust God, remain open to growth and embrace the unknown. “Just pray about it,” she said. “ Be open and don’t be afraid to be challenged.”
For someone who has spent almost three decades caring for patients, returning to school wasn’t about starting over. It was about expanding her ability to serve. Through ACU’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice program, she strengthened her leadership, broadened her influence and discovered that some of life’s greatest opportunities begin the moment you take a leap of faith.
If you’re interested in nursing or going back to school to advance your career, visit our website for more information.