Honoring Today and Tomorrow

National Nurses Week is a time to celebrate the dedication, compassion, and impact of nurses across every stage of their careers. It is also an opportunity to recognize the next generation of nurses, students who are preparing to carry the profession forward with purpose and heart.

At Cizik School of Nursing, that future is already taking shape through students like Emma Venghuas and Evan Stavinoha, who are entering their final semester with a deep sense of purpose rooted in personal experience and inspiration.

Inspired by Experience

For Emma, nursing began with her own experiences as a patient. Growing up with a knee condition that required frequent care, she spent much of her childhood around healthcare providers who left a lasting impression, not just through their clinical expertise, but through the comfort they provided.

“They were compassionate, reassuring, and always found ways to make difficult situations feel less overwhelming,” Emma shared. “Seeing their passion for caring for others inspired me to become that comforting person for someone else one day.”

That early inspiration has evolved into something deeper during her time at Cizik School of Nursing. Through academic and clinical training, Emma has built not only her technical skills, but also a strong foundation in empathy, advocacy, and patient connection. She credits much of that growth to the people around her, especially the faculty and her peers, who have continuously encouraged her to build confidence alongside competence.

Inspired by Family

In a similar way, Evan’s path into nursing was shaped by someone close to home, her mother, a licensed vocational nurse whose dedication and perseverance left a lasting impression.

“Watching her balance family, work, and her goals with so much perseverance inspired me at a young age,” Evan said. “Her compassion for others and determination to keep growing in her career made me want to follow a similar path.”

That influence continues to guide her today. Throughout her time at Cizik School of Nursing, Evan has been challenged to grow academically, emotionally, and personally, experiences that have shaped her into a more resilient and compassionate future nurse.

Learning Through Meaningful Moments

Like Emma, Evan has found her most meaningful moments through caring for patients in clinical settings, experiences that reinforce the human side of nursing and the responsibility that comes with it.

“Some of my most meaningful moments came from caring for patients and realizing the amount of trust they place in nurses during difficult times,” she shared. “It reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place, to care for others with empathy, advocacy, and heart.”

Emma shares a similar perspective, noting how the support of her professors and classmates has shaped both her confidence and her ability to care for others. As she reflected, their encouragement helped her grow not only in her clinical skills, but also in her “confidence, compassion, and ability to care for others.” These shared experiences highlight a common truth: nursing is as much about human connection as it is about clinical expertise.

Celebrating the Future of Nursing

As they prepare to graduate, Emma and Evan are looking ahead with excitement and purpose. Emma is eager to begin her obstetrics capstone and build on the passion that first inspired her, while Evan remains focused on carrying forward the values shaped by her family and clinical training. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to compassion and patient-centered care. This National Nurses Week, we celebrate both the nurses who inspire us and those just beginning their journey, ready to lead with empathy and resilience.

As we celebrate the future of nursing, we also invite those who share this same passion for patient care to take the next step. Explore our nursing opportunities and discover how you can begin or continue your journey with a team committed to growth, compassion, and excellence in care.