If Akemi Huynh could describe her experience at Duke University School of Nursing in one word, she would say it has been “reassuring.” 

“This program has challenged me, but the faculty, clinical instructors, fellow students and support services have facilitated my progression through the program,” she said. “I continue to become more capable and comfortable with time and practice.” 

Huynh, of Raleigh, is studying to earn an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and says the nursing field is a perfect match for her personality.  

She became interested in the career field while taking a human anatomy and physiology course as part of a dietician degree program she was pursuing. Nursing students in the class encouraged her to become a certified nursing assistant after noticing her passion for the field. 

After earning her CNA license, Huynh took a position in a skilled nursing facility with a dementia unit.  

“This work was incredibly rewarding and humbling because I was granted the utmost trust by caregivers to assist and provide for their loved ones,” she said. “With these newly acquired skills, I also tended to my grandfather in his final days. I chose to pursue nursing to expand my patient care skills and follow my academic interests.” 

Huynh says she chose DUSON for the admission requirements, clinical experiences, diversity of faculty expertise, continuing education options and location. Two of the primary deciding factors were her interactions with admissions staff and the optional open house she attended in the summer of 2022.  

“I was met with kindness, patience, and responsiveness to my questions,” she said. “The faculty and student panel responses illustrated a demanding but supportive academic environment. I was impressed with the simulated technology in the Center for Nursing Discovery and the available student resources and opportunities.” 

After graduating as a newly licensed nurse, Huynh hopes to accept a position in a unit that offers a comprehensive nurse residency program. She is interested in labor and delivery, perioperative nursing and neuroscience, but she also hopes to work in palliative and hospice care.  

“One of the appeals of this field is the luxury of trying many specialties, so I am eager to see where my journey goes,” Huynh said. “I know from listening to alumni that as long as I follow my interests, I will find a rewarding job and have a successful career.”