Nursing student Cassidy Camp has learned to expect–and embrace–the unexpected.
After all, she’s been immersed in the hospital setting amid COVID-19 restrictions,
nursing shortages and unprecedented health care challenges.
While she’s used to connecting with patients and providing exceptional care, she never
expected to change someone’s perspective on the nursing profession just by being herself.
After previous experience in oncology, labor and delivery, pediatrics and several
other units, Cassidy settled into the intensive care unit (ICU) at UPMC Mercy for
her last clinical immersion experience before her May 2024 graduation.
Arriving for her early-morning shift, Cassidy expected to see her usual preceptor.
When that nurse was unable to make it to work that day, Cassidy was assigned to shadow
someone whom she had never met in a very full ICU.
While most of the unit’s patients were usually older adults, Cassidy found herself
in the room of a college student–the youngest ICU patient she had seen thus far, with
a diagnosis she hadn’t yet seen in her clinical rotations.
“It really challenged me to think critically. Here was a patient who was around my
age with a condition and surgery that were new to me,” she said. “I was able to help
him from the time of admission to discharge, and it was rewarding to be part of the
whole process.”
Cassidy is driven by compassion and empathy, always striving to provide comfort in
addition to clinical care. Remaining open to the lives and journeys of others was
especially beneficial when caring for a fellow college student. “I was able to find
a balance in medical care and connecting with him,” she said. “He was able to go back
to his college and activities, and he and his parents were so grateful.”
Caring for this patient and the moments of gratitude that followed only intensified
the pride Cassidy feels in her future profession. She’s confident that the quality
care she provides will strengthen patients’ appreciation for the entire nursing profession.
”As he was discharged, he said the way I interacted with him made him want to fight
a little harder to get home quicker and be with the people that he loves,” said Cassidy.
“He told me that he would never forget seeing young students like me in the hospital,
and he would give more appreciation to classmates in the nursing program at his university.”
As graduation approaches, Cassidy is prepared for anything. And as she decides which
of her multiple job offers to accept, she is grateful for Duquesne School of Nursing
faculty who walked alongside her and helped her realize her boldest goals.
“They’ve all guided me, pushed me and reminded me why I’m entering nursing,” she said.
“They’ve shown me there’s a huge community of support in Pittsburgh that’s expanding
and accessible through networking.”
These are the professionals who will always be in her corner, and Cassidy looks forward
to growing this health care community as Duquesne opens the College of Osteopathic
Medicine.
“They're going to send so many more students and intelligent minds into all kinds
of hospitals and outpatient facilities to make health care better,” she said. “I feel
like the school and faculty will guide medical students and get them on the same positive
path faculty have sent me on in the nursing field.”
News Information
New Medical School, Fresh Perspectives
Students from across campus will connect in meaningful, productive ways.
Rose Trimpey-Warhaftig
There's a huge need for primary care physicians who speak Spanish. I want to use these skills in my daily work to help eliminate barriers.
Jacob Dimenbort
There will be a lot of opportunities for interprofessional work, particularly in the state-of-the-art simulation suites. This is where students start to understand the roles and responsibilities of their colleagues in different simulations such as the emergency room, birthing suite and more.
Rachel Anderson
I prioritize a holistic health approach in my own practice and consider physical, emotional and social wellbeing. It's really exciting that Duquesne is expanding and working to train new professionals in these resources.
Henry DiPaolo
The opening of Duquesne's College of Osteopathic Medicine is a great opportunity for collaboration. Pharmacy students can hear different patient cases and collaborate with a team of medical students, nursing students and pharmacy students–just like in the hospital setting.
Kyla Covato
With the medical students we can look at issues they might have and help them discover what we can do about them. I'm excited to collaborate and solve more health issues.
Iván Del Toro Hernández
Sometimes [doctors] say they have patients who would benefit from occupational therapy, and it helps to start that dialogue from the beginning in school–not just during clinical field work.
Kirstin Franklin
The new college will allow school psychology students to interact with medical students and learn how those teams work, while medical students get to learn how school systems work. It's important to have these multidisciplinary teams working together so their patients–our students–can benefit.
Amelia Trello
Duquesne students in the health profession programs are already contributing to the wellbeing of our communities. Now we are putting forth more professionals in the health sphere, and that's a great thing.
Fayla Junior
Since being here at Duquesne, one of the things that people tell others about Pittsburgh is that it's one of the places where health care thrives.