For 13 years, Stephanie has built her career as an RN by continually advancing her knowledge and skills, earning both her CEN and TCRN certification and serving on committees focused on morale, education, and policy improvement. She is currently working toward her Doctorate in Nursing Practice to become an Acute-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, a role that will allow her to directly impact the care of critically ill patients and help address the national shortage of nurse practitioners. She shares that teaching is also a passion of hers, and she hopes to use her doctorate to eventually serve as an adjunct or associate professor.
Since her husband’s death, Stephanie has remained committed to community service, volunteering with the NFFF and supporting first responder charities connected to her late husband’s career. Balancing full-time academics, part-time work, and the responsibilities of maintaining a single incoming household has been challenging, but she shares that receiving her scholarship for her first doctoral year of studies allowed her to reduce her work hours to spend more time on her education and increase her GPA. Stephanie shares that continued support will ease the financial strain, allowing her to remain focused on her studies and to continue giving back to the community.
Jermain Clayborne, Administrator for Emergency Medicine & Services for UVA Health says of Stephanie, “she has demonstrated remarkable resilience, professionalism, and dedication, establishing herself as both a leader and an exemplary nurse. Stephanie is disciplined, intelligent, and committed to lifelong learning.” RN Noah Cook adds “Stephanie displays perseverance and courage in all she does.”
