When Peter Caraballo was in nursing school, he told his friends he was going to apply to Duke University School of Nursing for graduate school. At the time, it seemed like a faraway dream, but he enjoyed imagining himself as a Duke student. 

He knew he wanted to go to a school that provided an abundance of resources and would allow him to gain all the experience he could in a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) program. 

“Duke struck my interest when I found out about their simulation labs, regional anesthesia course and wide variety of clinical rotations that allow you to get the best experience you can throughout your three years,” he said. 

Caraballo is now living his dream as a student in the School’s Nurse Anesthesia Program as he works to earn a DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) degree. He says the experience has been amazing so far, especially connecting with other students from across the country who have similar career goals and passions. He also has high praise for the School’s professors.

“The faculty has been consistently available and flexible, allowing students to give feedback throughout the courses and feel like your voice is being heard,” he said. 

Caraballo originally began his higher education journey majoring in pre-medicine but decided during his first semester that he had no interest in pursuing medical school after graduation. An advisor recommended he switch to nursing since it was in the medical field and had flexibility for post-baccalaureate degrees. 

“At the time I knew little about the nurse's role, but I decided to take the chance and change my major,” Caraballo said. “Throughout nursing school, I was able to see how vital the role of the nurse is, and I truly enjoyed the profession.”

After graduation, he worked in a small community hospital in Long Island, N.Y., and was on a 35-bed telemetry/stepdown unit where he was first introduced to critical care. After a year of working as a new graduate, he applied for a position in Duke University Hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit on a whim and received an interview. 

During his four years in the SICU he learned how to care for a wide variety of patients and gained vital skills in leadership, time management and critical thinking. He expanded his role by gaining experience as a charge nurse and eventually joining the Rapid Response Team.

After graduating from the School of Nursing, Caraballo plans to stay around Raleigh and Durham. 

“I am fortunate that I have most of my family, as well as my husband, who have all made lives for themselves and genuinely enjoy being here,” he said. “After a few years of clinical work, I would eventually like to pursue a career in education to help educate the future providers of the world.”