Celebrate the Little Victories as You Go

The 27-year-old native of Armagh, Pa., who earned his undergraduate degree in exercise physiology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, spent a year as a traveling medical scribe for doctors and nurses on the west coast. In addition, he was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). When he arrived at Duquesne in 2023, Joey candidly admits that he thought he wouldn’t learn much more than what those experiences had already taught him.

“That was a naïve notion. When I got here, I realized that I had some medical knowledge, but I didn't have that critical nursing foundation,” says Joey, recognizing there was much more to nursing than he had anticipated. “Now? I feel prepared. I'm definitely different in ways I didn't expect. I feel a lot more confident now, and I actually understand why things happen.”

Joey found a supportive and challenging environment that has been marked by pivotal learning experiences both in and outside of the classroom. Additionally, the wisdom and guidance from faculty who have walked alongside him has also helped him to grow and realize his boldest goals. 

Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Jodi Licata taught Joey’s Fundamentals of Nursing course. He credits her with stirring genuine excitement for the class and its clinical experiences. A heartfelt message from Dr. Licata at the end of the semester continues to resonate deeply with him. 

“She gave each of us a tiny container full of confetti,” Joey recalls. “And she said, ‘Sometimes in nursing you do great things that go unnoticed—make sure that you always remember to celebrate your own victories.’” 

Joey’s practical experiences at Duquesne were equally transformative. At first, he found the school’s Learning and Simulation Center intimidating, but he quickly learned to appreciate the value in the controlled yet realistic clinical scenarios it provides. 

“It wasn’t as chaotic as I initially thought in that first moment,” he says. “They video record what you do, so you get to look back and learn from your mistakes. It definitely felt more fluid after that, and it helped to enhance clinical learning.”

Joey’s population health clinical took him to various sites in and around Pittsburgh, including free clinics, food pantries and shelters. The St. Joseph House of Hospitality is the only year-round men’s residential program of its kind in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

“We went in and did blood pressure screenings,” Joey says. “We learned a lot about how the staff there help the residents get back on their feet.” 

This experience opened Joey’s eyes to the broader impact of health care beyond hospital walls, especially in underserved communities. An important self-realization also came to light. “I didn’t realize until then that I come from an underserved population. We only have one medical provider who is 25 minutes away and who is getting older,” says Joey, who plans to eventually pursue an MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner. 

During his adult health clinical at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), Joey found himself deeply connected to the environment and the staff, which made him feel comfortable and confident. “Everyone there was just so open to and understanding of the fact that we were students and new nurses, and they were 100% willing to help,” he says. “They’d tell us, ‘You’re not going to learn unless you’re in the room—let’s go.’ By the end of the semester, you’re giving meds, talking to patients and assessing them.”

The clinical opportunity at AGH was so life-changing that Joey has accepted a job there as a floor nurse in the ICU step-down unit. He starts this next chapter in October, with professional confidence and impressive experience driven by compassion and empathy.