From Hospice Nurse to Healthcare Consultant; From the US to Spain

How Mark gained admission to multiple MBA programs in Spain to power a 3-way pivot: industry, function, and geography

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Client name changed for confidentiality
Representative client image (AI-generated)

Before MBA Protocol

Before I began working with Tiffany from MBA Protocol, I worked as a Hospice Registered Nurse Case Manager. I graduated as a Registered Nurse in 2017 and spent several years working in hospice care. Over time, I realized I genuinely enjoyed this side of healthcare and the human connection that came with it. At the same time, there were frustrations within the industry that became more apparent to me the longer I worked in it. As a case manager, my ability to impact patient care was often limited to individual cases. I constantly had to navigate a complex healthcare system in order to deliver good end-of-life care for patients and families. I also began to notice that my role existed somewhere between bedside care and leadership. In many ways, a hospice case manager occupies both spaces, but without the ability to influence the broader systems that shape care delivery. What I wanted was to move toward a healthcare leadership role where I could contribute at a larger organizational and systems level.

Why MBA, why now

I chose to pursue an MBA because, unlike a more specialized master’s in healthcare management, the MBA would allow me to learn alongside people from very different professional and personal backgrounds.

That diversity of perspectives was something I found very appealing and enriching. I was also intentionally looking for an MBA abroad because of my own cultural background and personal experiences growing up between cultures. Before deciding on the MBA path, I considered more traditional routes for advancement within nursing, including becoming a nurse practitioner. But fairly quickly I realized that while I respected those paths, they were not what I truly wanted for myself. I knew I wanted to contribute to changing how healthcare is delivered at a broader level. A lot of that motivation also comes from personal experiences from my childhood, which showed me how important a strong and well-designed healthcare system can be. That stayed with me and ultimately pushed me to pursue this path.

My post-MBA vision became much clearer through the work I did with Tiffany. While I already had a general sense of what I wanted to do, working through my essays and goals with her helped me define them in a much more concrete and thoughtful way. My goal after the MBA is to pursue a consulting role where I can learn more about the healthcare system in Spain, which is where I will be studying. Healthcare delivery there differs quite a bit from the US system, and I hope that through consulting I can better understand how organizations operate, build a professional network, and gain experience working within the Spanish healthcare landscape. Long term, I would like to lead a healthcare organization in Spain.

Why MBA Protocol

As I started researching MBA programs, I quickly realized that applying to business school is an intense and, at times, overwhelming process. I remember watching YouTube videos and coming across content from MBA Protocol early on. What stood out to me immediately was both the quality of the advice and the overall approach. I understood that if I was going to work with a consultant, I needed to feel comfortable talking openly about myself and my experiences. I ended up interviewing with three consulting companies, but my conversation with MBA Protocol confirmed what I had already sensed from their videos, which was that they genuinely cared about people and connected with applicants at a human level. During my initial call with Angela Guido, I spoke about my background in hospice care. Afterwards, Angela sent me a very thoughtful message thanking me for the work I do caring for patients and families. That stayed with me. I felt heard, understood, and comfortable. I also appreciated the way MBA Protocol approached such a stressful process with both professionalism and humor. They made the experience feel engaging and personal while still giving excellent advice. Their Discovery Program, especially, helped me better understand myself and my own story.

The work we did together

During my journey with MBA Protocol, I noticed a significant improvement in my ability to tell my story in a way that genuinely reflected both my accomplishments and my aspirations. The process involved a level of self-reflection that I honestly had not taken the time to do before. Working through my essays and experiences helped me look back on my professional journey with a different perspective. I became more aware of the things I had accomplished, the experiences that shaped me, and the aspects of my career that I was truly proud of. More than anything, it helped me connect the different parts of my story into something that felt authentic and meaningful.

The Coach Tiffany Advantage

I feel truly fortunate to have worked with Tiffany. Her advice and guidance were consistently thoughtful and spot on, but beyond that, she was incredibly easy to talk to, honest in her assessment of difficult situations, and very detail oriented. Her approach helped me find a voice within my story rather than forcing me into a version of myself that did not feel authentic.

Applying to business school is a journey in itself. At the time, I was working full time as a hospice case manager, and the application process can absolutely feel like taking on a second full-time job. Tiffany’s guidance and support made a tremendous difference throughout that process.

I gained from working with my MBA Protocol coach are skills I will carry with me long after the MBA application process.

In many ways, the experience became not only about business school applications, but also about understanding myself more clearly and connecting that understanding to my long-term goals.

MBA Admission Results

I initially studied for the GRE, but ultimately decided to take the school-specific entrance exams for my top three schools instead. These schools do not provide applicants with detailed feedback on exam performance.

I was accepted to my first-choice school and also received a 40% scholarship from another program I was strongly considering. More importantly, I felt confident that I had made a decision that aligned with both my professional goals and personal circumstances.

The experience with MBA Protocol became not only about business school applications, but also about understanding myself more clearly and connecting that understanding to my long-term goals.

Advice to other pivoters

My advice would be to speak with someone who has gone through a similar transition and who creates an environment where you feel comfortable sharing your goals openly. A big career pivot can feel intimidating, especially when you are coming from a nontraditional background. Having guidance from people who can help you better understand your own story and potential makes an enormous difference.

Mark’s Success Statistics

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