ST. LEO – They are the first. They made it through their general classes, passed CPR and additional tests and achieved the minimum 3.3 GPA to become nursing students their junior year. Then they studied, worked in health care, learned to draw blood and give injections, practiced their skills, and studied some more. Now, they will be Saint Leo University’s first graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.
Twelve students make up the first cohort to graduate from the university’s nursing program.
“They didn’t simply meet the expectations of our program. They helped shape them,” faculty member Paige Porter said. “Their legacy sets the standard for those who will follow in their footsteps.”
Program’s beginnings
Not only did the university recognize the need for nurses when it launched the bachelor’s degree in 2021, but so did the Florida Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis, area health care and government leaders, and several donors.
They provided additional funds to build the program and create learning spaces for the future health professionals. In February 2025, Saint Leo held the grand opening for its new nursing space on the second floor of Benedictine Hall. The space includes two conference rooms, two classrooms, five offices, three simulation rooms, an assessment room, a simulation control room, a nursing lab, a lounge and study spaces.
“Our simulations were very well thought out and creative, using the most up-to-date technology, allowing us to experience certain health situations such as delivering babies and providing wound care,” said senior Laynee Marsee, of the opportunities provided by the new simulation rooms and equipment.
Self-Care equals better patient care
Four themes are embedded in Saint Leo’s nursing courses: evidence-based practice, interprofessional communication, culture of health and clinician well-being. Saint Leo’s nursing students not only are learning how to take care of others, but they’re also learning to take care of themselves.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, “we saw many nurses leave the profession,” said Kathleen Van Eerden, dean of the College of Health Professions. “We saw how important it was for nurses to be resilient and to manage stress.”
She said it was important for Saint Leo’s program to help students build the skills they need to be happy in their choice so that they have a long career in nursing.
“Understanding that nursing has a high probability of burnout and compassion fatigue can help me be more aware of work-life balance and taking breaks when I need them,” said soon-to-be nursing graduate Nathanael Allen.
Senior Mekhai Dinnard said the program’s focus on clinician well-being made a difference in how she handles stress. Dinnard balanced her studies with working two to three jobs – as a nurse extern at Moffitt Cancer Center and as a registered behavior technician working with children on the autism spectrum.
“Nursing school is hard and being a new graduate nurse will be extremely hard as well, especially in the beginning,” Dinnard said. “It’s important that I prioritize my mental health in order to give the best care possible to my patients.”
Unique approach to nursing education
During spring semester 2024, the nursing program’s then-juniors embarked on new journey in clinical education and gained one-on-one training with nurse preceptors (mentors) at AdventHealth Zephyrhills.
Thanks to a partnership between the university and AdventHealth, an innovative Dedicated Education Unit was created to train future nurses and possible employees.
In the typical clinical model, a nursing instructor in the hospital mentors eight nursing students, and each student initially is assigned to one patient. But with the DEU model, because the student is paired with their mentor, the student actually works alongside that nurse, who usually is assigned a caseload of patients.
Saint Leo students worked side-by-side for 12-hour shifts with their mentors and university nursing instructor Porter.
In 2025, the DEU program expanded to include AdventHealth Dade City.
Ava Valenti’s favorite part of the nursing program was the clinicals.
“Especially the DEU where I got to apply everything I learned in real time with a single preceptor,” she said. “The hands-on experience made the lectures come to life and helped me build confidence in my skills.”
As students worked in various units at AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City, they gained insight to different types of nursing.
“My most important moments were spent in their [AdventHealth] ICU where I was able to know with confidence that I wanted to pursue that type of nursing,” Martina Encomienda said. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to rotate through Critical Care with them.”
Learning about all the opportunities available in the future was key for nursing student Alexis Musser.
“I look forward to all of the opportunities to come,” she said. “I feel a sense of security knowing that there are so many different jobs and specialties within the field of nursing. There is never a ‘dead-end.’”
The next chapter
As Saint Leo’s nursing students prepare to graduate on May 7 and enter various health care fields, they’re proud to be the first cohort.
“This program taught me that I am far more capable than I ever thought I could be,” said Emily Edwards. “I have learned and experienced more than I thought I would in the short time I have been in the program. It has given me the strength I needed to not only pursue this career, but also find a passion for it.”
The seniors will take part in a pinning ceremony May 5 at the Student Community Center. They will receive a pin representing their graduation from Saint Leo University’s nursing program.
Nursing pinning ceremonies are rooted in history. The ceremony has ties to Florence Nightingale, known as a founder of modern nursing. For her work during the Crimean War, she received the Red Cross of St. George in the 1860s. Saint Leo’s nursing graduates proudly will wear their pins, indicating they have the skills and compassion to join the field.
Some of the students have accepted positions or have offers locally at AdventHealth, Lakeland Regional Health, Tampa General Hospital, Moffit Cancer Center and BayCare health care facilities.
“They are ready – more than ready – to take their place in the world as nurses,” Porter said. “And I’m truly honored to have been part of their story.”
