UNM Hospital Partnership to Increase Health Care Workers
By Kayleen Schenk
Fall 2023 UNM Exceptional Nursing Graduates
This fall welcomes another cohort of exceptional nursing graduates into The University of New Mexico College of Nursing alumni community. Their hard work and dedication have resulted in an accomplishment that not only leads to a limitless nursing career, but they now have the opportunity to become health care professionals and help combat the national nursing shortage.
As graduates from the College of Nursing, they have experienced extensive classroom studies, skills labs, simulations and clinical rotations; all designed with success and evidence-based practice in mind.
The UNM College of Nursing wishes to highlight two Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Fall 2023 graduates who stand out among their peers!
Sister Mary Gianna
Sister Mary Gianna will be graduating from the BSN Dual Degree program, which allows students to remain in their communities by co-enrolling in UNM’s College of Nursing and their local community college or branch campus. Sister Mary Gianna performed her studies at Santa Fe Community College while also working in a parish across from the school.
“It is truly a gift to be able to go to school in the community where I am also a part of holy service. After I graduate, I’ll be able to serve my community in more ways than one.”
“It is truly a gift to be able to go to school in the community where I am also a part of holy service. After I graduate, I’ll be able to serve my community in more ways than one,” Gianna says.
Her journey to nursing has been unconventional but charged with inspiration. She was driven to both the religious life and health care after the infamous events of Columbine High School, at which she was a student on the day of the fateful shooting in 1999.
Gianna says, “I look forward to returning to my Motherhouse where I will be a nurse for my community. I am also hoping to use the knowledge and skills I have learned in nursing to serve in the missions, as we are a missionary community.”
Gianna’s motivating story shows that there are many paths to nursing and that it is a field that can accompany many walks of life.
Morgan Fleming
For Morgan Fleming, the call to nursing was not immediate right out of high school but arrived later in her undergraduate experience. Originally a physical therapy student, she loved learning to help patients regain mobility and alleviate pain, but she craved a more human component.
“I realized I wanted to fulfill all of the different roles a nurse gets to do. For their patients, they are more than nurses. They are a source of comfort and they’re resourceful, ensuring health and more happiness.”
Fleming says, “I realized I wanted to fulfill all the different roles a nurse gets to do. For their patients, they are more than nurses, they are a source of comfort and they’re resourceful, ensuring health and more happiness.”
Her transition from PT to nursing was smooth and quite economical, thanks to the College of Nursing administrative teams. Her credits transferred almost seamlessly, leaving her with only a few prerequisites to take before diving into the nursing curriculum.
“I was able to start the nursing courses later in my undergrad experience and I’m still on track to graduate in decent time.” She continues, “now I get to serve New Mexico, which is in desperate need of nurses and is honestly a really cool place to work. This state is full of adventure.”
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College of Nursing, Education, Top Stories