According to 2024 data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), there are around 385,000 license nurse practitioners in the United States, but only around 2% of them focus primarily on women's health. With women and girls accounting for roughly half of the U.S. population,…
The national opioid crisis claimed more than 80,000 lives last year, a number that’s grown 10-fold over the last two decades, and opioid overdose is the leading cause of injurious death in the U.S. Meanwhile, millions of Americans continue to suffer from opioid use disorder despite the availability…
People living with dementia often experience sleep issues, such as problems falling or staying asleep. Sleep deprivation can cause worsening dementia symptoms, impede daily tasks and affect the mood of the dementia sufferer and their caregiver. Assistant Professor Darina Petrovsky, PhD, RN…
Born in the Dominican Republic, Luisa Vega's early life was marked by the influence of her parents—her mother, a nurse, and her father, an engineer. At age 18, she joined the U.S. military and served in the Army Reserves for eight years. Following her military service, Vega…
Forged in the Fires of Global Pandemic
For prelicensure student Christian Shepler, the journey to nursing began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he worked as a pharmacy technician and immunizer at a rurally-located Walgreens.
“It was like the Wild West—every day was a battle to keep up…
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The Navy Nurse Experience
Erika Grattidge as a flight nurse with the United States Marine Corps, where she transported patients by aircraft
Before pursuing her doctorate in nurse anesthesia, Erika Grattidge spent eight years active duty…
This past summer, the Duke School of Nursing’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging hosted eight students on campus for its summer MAP program (Mentoring to Increase Access to Health Professions). Particularly focused on supporting underrepresented students, the program addresses…
Pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a pivotal step toward accelerating your nursing career. Whether you’re seeking leadership roles, specialized clinical positions, or opportunities in education, a Master of Science in Nursing program provides the perfect pathway to your nursing career…
Parris Jones-Hammock, an ABSN student at Duke University School of Nursing, had a transformative experience on a class trip to Guatemala—one that he says has further instilled a desire to give back to underserved communities and gain diverse clinical experiences.
“That trip allowed me to work…
The underrepresentation of Black men in nursing continues to pose a significant challenge to diversity and equity in healthcare leadership. Systemic barriers such as implicit bias, limited access to advanced education, and lack of mentorship have been well-documented, but there is little…
Studies have shown that patients often have better outcomes when cared for by a healthcare team that reflects their own backgrounds and experiences. Representation in nursing improves healthcare outcomes and builds trust between patients and healthcare providers.
As we celebrate Black History…
One nurse puts on a virtual reality (VR) headset to get inside the mind of an elderly patient with early onset dementia. Another diagnoses a patient who shows up not in person in a clinic, but remotely via hologram. These might sound like scenes from a healthcare-based episode of Star Trek, but in…
The daughter of two nurses, Nicole Brady has long held a passion for nursing. She considered the field of pediatrics, to follow in her father’s footsteps, but she says her path became clear when she discovered NICU.
Brady was working as a NICU nurse when she met Desi Newberry…
Duke University School of Nursing has once again received high rankings for online Master’s level nursing education by securing top positions in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Online rankings. The school’s MSN programs have ranked #1 across several categories, reflecting a commitment to…
Finding Motivation Amidst Familial Loss
After graduating college, Ivan Kobialka decided to apply to nursing school for two main reasons. The first was the grief that came with losing his grandfather in 2016 and his father in 2021.
“I was a child when my grandfather fell and had a massive gash in…
In December, Kate Gray, MPA, joined the School of Nursing as our new Associate Dean of Development & Alumni Affairs.
"I am thrilled to be at the Duke University School of Nursing. Working with incredibly talented faculty, students, and alumni, who are together working to…
One in five children in the U.S. will suffer a concussion by age 16, most often caused by falls, sports injuries, and motor-vehicle accidents. Dr. Karin Reuter-Rice, PhD, CPNP-AC, FCCM, FAAN, associate professor of nursing and pediatrics, is conducting a 5-year study exploring the…
Natasha Fevry, DNP’24, PMHNP-BC, recently published her DNP project, “Implementing an Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening Tool With Migrant Children: A Quality Improvement Project Using the PEARLS Screening Tool,” in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care with faculty members…