Health Equity Reimagined
Student Engagement
DUSON Student Has Been Practicing Nursing Skills Since Age 4
At 4 years old, Feyisetan Idowu was engrossed in imaginative role plays, unknowingly practicing for her future career. She tenderly cared for her sick dolls, giving them pretend injections and nursing them back to health.
Her inclination towards nursing continued as she grew older and began reading medical books, eagerly wanting to learn about the causes of diseases and their treatments long before she officially embarked on her nursing journey. Now a student at Duke University School of Nursing, Idowu’s years of practice are paying off.
“Thus far, my experience at DUSON has been nothing short of exceptional,” said Idowu, who is studying to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice with Nursing Education Certification.
In 2004, Idowu took her first step towards realizing her passion when she enrolled in the nursing program at the School of Nursing in Osun State, Nigeria. Gradually, she honed her skills and earned licensure as a registered nurse in 2007 and her bachelor’s degree in 2012. She also pursued a certification in midwifery in Nigeria, expanding her ability to care for mothers and newborns.
Her journey in nursing continued to evolve when she moved to the United States in 2016. She took the rigorous NCLEX-RN exam and started practicing as a registered nurse in Massachusetts, which she remembers as a pivotal moment in her career.
"It was during this time that I found immense fulfillment in caring for the sick, especially those who were vulnerable and often marginalized within our community. Witnessing the profound impact of social determinants of health on the well-being of communities of color further deepened my commitment to nursing.”
Feyisetan Idowu
DNP and Nursing Education Certification Student
In 2018, while working as an RN case manager, she saw the challenging reality of securing mental health providers for vulnerable patients in need of mental health care. That experience motivated her to pursue a master’s degree in nursing and specialize in the field of psychiatric mental health nursing, a journey she started on in 2019.
After graduating from DUSON, she plans to become a nurse educator and to integrate the role with her clinical practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
“Reflecting on my academic and career path today, I can confidently say that becoming a nurse and, subsequently, a nurse practitioner, has been the right decision,” Idowu said. “This rewarding journey has allowed me to fulfill my calling and make a positive impact on the lives of those I care for, bringing me immense satisfaction and a sense of purpose.”
Feyisetan Idowu, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN, has been practicing her nursing skills since she was 4 years old. Now a student at DUSON, she is putting that practice to work.