For Nicole Ganiere, the heart of nursing lies in the small victories—like helping a patient take their first sip of apple juice after months of recovery, or supporting someone as they rise from bed after open-heart surgery.
When she was a child, Ganiere’s grandfather suffered a massive heart attack and resulted in 5 years of skilled nursing care for him. She was able to witness the direct effects of healthcare and wanted to be the kind of caregiver that families felt comfortable having by their side in tough times.
“I was inspired to be the support system for families, the advocate for my patients, and the foundation for effective and therapeutic communication between all involved parties,� she said. “Being a consistent motivator and advocate as patients overcome obstacles is incredibly rewarding.�
Ganiere will graduate this May with her Master of Nursing degree from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.
Drawn to CWRU for its location in the heart of Cleveland and its strong clinical partnerships, she appreciated the program’s expansive breadth of experience across Masters-level specialties and its extensive clinical hours.
“The School of Nursing provided more than 1,000 hours of clinical training–double any other program in the country—which has given me the confidence and skills I need to begin my career as a nurse,� she said.
Ganiere said her time at nursing school has shifted her perspective on mortality, making her value precious moments spending time with friends, family and loves ones, and not taking that time for granted
Before starting at CWRU, Ganiere earned her Bachelor of Natural Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She now works as a nurse assistant in the surgical intensive care unit at the Cleveland Clinic, where manages care for patients after a major operation while aiding them in performing their daily activities, mobilizing them, and feeding them when unable.
She plans to continue working in the trauma intensive care unit after graduation while pursuing her Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification.