Becoming the Nurse You Are Meant to Be

Staccie Allen, DNP, APRN, EMT-P

Following is an address delivered at the University of Florida College of Nursing White Coat Ceremony on October 23, 2025.

It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you today to witness this defining moment when you officially begin your journey into clinical practice. Tonight isn’t just about a white coat, it’s about a commitment to your patients, to your profession, and to the person you’re becoming. It’s the moment when what you’ve been studying in classrooms and labs begins to transform into something real, when the theory of nursing becomes practice. This is when you begin to bridge the gap between student and clinician, between knowledge and compassion, between who you are now and who you are becoming.

Nurses come into this profession from all walks of life and with diverse backgrounds. Some will share that they were called to nursing from a young age, while others discovered it later through personal experiences, family influences, or a simple desire to make a difference.

My story goes like this. While in undergraduate school at the University of Florida I worked part-time in the local ER as an admissions assistant. It was my job to register patients when they came in. As a college student, I had started out pre-med and absolutely despised my chemistry sequence, so I decided to pivot to the business side of healthcare and was determined to be the best hospital administrator ever. My Dad was a human resources guy, so that’s probably where the business interest came from. I graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in finance and management, then immediately obtained my first “real job” as a budget analyst.

During the week, I worked as an analyst, but on the weekends, I would still pull a shift or two in the hospital emergency department (ED). The ED was always much more exciting than the budget office. One night (and I still remember it like it was yesterday) Bruce and Carolyn, clinicians from ShandsCair (the university hospital’s critical care transport team) came to pick up a critically ill patient from our small community hospital. I was completely mesmerized by the expeditious, autonomous and comprehensive care they delivered. That night, I told my future husband that one day I was going to be a nurse on that team picking up sick patients.

To be honest, before that night, I had never even considered being a nurse, even though that is what my husband-to-be was studying to become at the time. Of course, everyone thought my dream was craziness. They told me that someone had to retire or die to get a spot on that team. I said, “That’s ok, I am still going to do it”. So back to nursing school I went, beyond determined, and with a clarity like I had never had before. I started working on my BSN in 2001 and looking back, I can honestly say that nursing school was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I learned far more than I ever expected – not just about anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical skills, but about people, resilience, and myself. Every lecture, every late-night study session, and every clinical shift taught me something new about what it truly means to care for others. I found joy in the learning process. Nursing school shaped not only my knowledge, but my character, and I’m deeply grateful for every lesson it gave me.

In 2005, after multiple ER, ICU and EMS positions and 3 interview processes, I got the call. “Staccie, how would you like to join our ShandsCair team?” I am pretty sure I fell out of my chair while on the phone receiving the news. And one of the best parts was that I got to fly with Carolyn and Bruce, the two clinicians who had inspired me, before they retired. Since then, I have had the amazing opportunity to fly with ShandsCair for the past 20 years, and I even got to lead the program for 8 of those years. I also completed my master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing. And then in a full circle moment, a few years after completing my DNP, I was selected for a faculty position. So, I ask each of you…what inspired you to be here, right now, becoming a nurse? Never lose sight of that inspiration and let it help guide your purpose in nursing for years to come.

For over two decades nursing has been ranked as the most trusted profession. That trust isn’t just earned by the care we give — it’s earned by the integrity we live. When patients can’t speak, they trust that we will speak for them. When families are afraid, they trust that we will guide them. When chaos unfolds, they trust that we will bring calm. That trust will soon rest literally in your hands. Every blood pressure you take, every conversation you have, every decision you make, those moments add up. Trust isn’t built by titles or degrees. It’s built one patient, one encounter, one act of compassion at a time.

As I am sure you have heard, Nursing is both a science and an art. The science is what keeps your patients safe. The pharmacology, pathophysiology, evidence-based practice and protocols you’ve studied tirelessly. But the art, that’s what makes you unforgettable. It’s how you make eye contact when a patient is scared. It’s how you use silence to comfort. It’s how you interpret more than words. You interpret needs. Never lose sight of that balance. Because while science saves lives, it’s the art of nursing that changes them.

Now, as you enter clinical rotations, preparation becomes your superpower. The hospital environment is fast-paced and unpredictable, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. You may not know every medication or lab value and that’s okay. What matters most is your willingness to show up prepared to learn. Each day, review your patients, ask questions, read up on conditions you don’t understand. Preparation will give you confidence, and confidence builds trust — not only in your patients, but in yourself.

You are about to experience so many firsts. Your first real patient. Your first error. Your first “thank you.” Your first time witnessing life begin, and perhaps life end. Don’t rush past these moments. Embrace them. Learn from them. Reflect on them. Every first, even the hard ones, are shaping your practice, your mindset, and your heart. Nursing will challenge you deeply, grow you profoundly, and change the way you see yourself and the world around you.

You don’t get to be a nurse just because you graduate. You earn it every day. You earn it by showing up early, by being teachable, by treating everyone from environmental services colleagues to attending physicians with respect. You earn it when you take ownership of your learning and your patients. You earn it by your professionalism, your presence, and your persistence. No one owes you a place in this profession, but once you earn it, you’ll realize there’s no greater calling.

I want to challenge you to leave your mark. Not by being perfect, but by being present. By being the nurse who listens. The nurse who notices when something isn’t right. You will develop those “gut” feelings. The nurse who treats every patient as if they were family. When you do that, nursing stops being just something you do and becomes part of who you are. It weaves into your identity. You’ll see the world differently, with empathy, awareness, and courage.

And you will see things that stay with you. Some will inspire you, and others will haunt you. That’s part of nursing’s truth. But remember that resilience isn’t about hardening your heart. It’s about protecting it without losing it. It’s learning how to process what you see: to debrief, to lean on your peers, and to take time to heal yourself. The goal is not to feel less, it’s to learn how to feel and still function effectively.

Your mindset will define your experience more than any textbook. Walk into each clinical day believing that you belong there, even when you’re nervous. View every challenge as an opportunity, not a setback. When feedback comes, and it will, take it as a gift. The difference between a struggling student and a thriving one often comes down to mindset. Growth mindset turns mistakes into lessons and lessons into mastery.

Three skills will sustain you for your entire career: communication, advocacy, and setting boundaries.

Communicate clearly with your patients, your preceptors, and your peers. Speak up when you don’t know and ask when you are unsure.

Advocate not only for your patients but for yourself. Nursing is not about saying “yes” to everything. It’s about saying “yes” to what matters most.

Set boundaries early and often. Protect your peace, your time, and your mental health. The best nurses are not those who give until they’re empty, they’re the ones who give from a place of balance. Self-care is not selfish, it’s sustainable. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Whether it’s sleep, exercise, nutrition, prayer, laughter, or quietness. Find what refills you and make it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine. Remember you are your first patient, so take care of you.

As an incredibly proud alumna, I stand before you not just to congratulate you, but to remind you that you are joining something bigger than yourself. It is a legacy of healing, leadership, and excellence. You will witness humanity at its rawest moments: joy, pain, loss and hope. You will be the steady hand, the listening ear, the calm voice, the advocate when it matters most. You are stepping into the same halls and hospitals that thousands of nurses before you have walked, nurses who once felt just as nervous and excited as you do now. You will have days when you question yourself. But know this: you are exactly where you are supposed to be. You’ve earned this moment. You belong in this profession. And one day, years from now, you will look back and realize that today, this ceremony, this beginning, was where it all started So, wear your white coat with pride. Carry your compassion with strength. And go forward ready to learn, ready to serve, and ready to become the nurse you were meant to be. Be open. Be brave. Be humble.