Years ago, Jessica Nielsen watched as nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) cared for her baby sister. She saw nurses care for her mother, too, whose health was severely compromised during childbirth. 

“This experience gave me a passion to care for others, especially those who can’t help themselves. Ever since that experience, I’ve always wanted to be a nurse,” said Nielsen, of Centennial, CO. 

Now a student at Duke University School of Nursing, Nielsen is studying to earn a Masters of Nursing in Healthcare Leadership and Administration. 

“My experience at Duke has been phenomenal,” she said. “The courses are beautifully designed to both enhance critical thinking and introduce new ideas, while also providing opportunities to share personal experiences and perspectives. Instructors make themselves available and are thorough in feedback on assignments.”

Nielsen says she chose Duke’s School of Nursing after spending hours researching every graduate nursing school in the U.S. When she saw that Duke was consistently rated as one of the best leadership programs in the nation, she knew the school had something unique to offer.

“It was obvious that the School of Nursing was doing something different,” she said. “If I was going to shoot for the stars in health care leadership, I knew I had to be taught by the best – and the best teach at Duke.”

Nielsen is currently a nurse navigator, working closely with administration to facilitate new protocols for cancer patients who are nearing the end of their lives. Her goal is to continue learning so she can apply her skills and knowledge to a larger hospital leadership role. 

“Ultimately, I hope to one day find myself in a nursing advocacy leadership role, working with legislators and policymakers to ensure that nurses are appropriately represented and accommodated for the selfless care they provide,” she said.