Brianna Parker Wants To ‘Be a Light’

To move toward that goal, Parker enrolled at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she said she had an "amazing time." Parker played softball in high school, and PBA was one of the schools that recruited her for softball. "I initially wanted to go there for softball, but then I fell in love with the campus. It was beautiful, in the middle of downtown West Palm Beach, on the water. When I first took a tour, the person leading the tour knew everyone. And that’s how it is – it’s a small, close-knit university, you get to know so many people on the campus, it’s like living in a small town. Also, President Fleming is amazing, he’s been such an inspiration to me. I’ve had a very close relationship with him and have been lucky to keep in touch with him after I graduated."

 

In her senior year, Parker was chosen as the Outstanding Graduate in the School of Nursing. "I was very humbled by that," she said, "it was definitely an honor. I feel like I was blessed so much during my senior year. I got to speak at the senior chapel, and I was one of the seniors to speak at the graduation ceremony, where I got to share my story and share the love I had for PBA during my four years."

 

Since graduation, Parker has been working in the Trauma Neurosurgical Care Unit at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce, a position that she says is very fulfilling. "We get patients from motorcycle accidents, car accidents, gunshot victims, ones who have fallen from a high distances – any kind of trauma. Working there, I’ve seen how big of a difference you can make. I tell them, ‘This is only today, every day you’ll get a little better, every day is a step forward.’ It definitely has many moments of reward where you feel like you’re making a difference. It has been challenging but I really love it."

 

While she is enthusiastic about her current position, Parker said that when PBA decided to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice, she was eager to enter. "I knew I wanted to keep moving forward in my career and I felt a DNP was the next step. When PBA decided to open its program, I really was drawn to go back. I had such a great relationship with all of my professors, and I knew that was the kind of school where I wanted to get my advanced degree."

 

Because Parker grew up wanting to be a teacher, she admits that after working as a nurse practitioner initially, she would be interested in doing some adjunct teaching, and then later perhaps go into teaching full time. "The Doctorate of Nursing Practice opens up the opportunity to be able to teach at a university down the road, in addition to practicing." And Palm Beach Atlantic is definitely where she wants to go to get that degree. "After the experience I had in the four years of my undergrad, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else for graduate school."

 

She especially appreciates that PBA has a Christ-centered focus. While attending her undergrad, she went on a mission trip to Nicaragua with her softball team. "I went three years ago, and it was great, truly an eye-opener. I think we’re a little naïve here and don’t see what goes on in other countries. It was a great opportunity to show love to others. Having a Christ-like joy in your heart opens you up to bring out true compassion. It really helps you take better care of your patients."

 

In discussing what she likes best about being a nurse, Parker said it’s "when you have a patient who is so grateful and you feel like your heart is full of joy because you’re giving back. Those are the times you really know you are in the right profession and making a difference in their time of need; that’s definitely the best reward of being a nurse."

 

And the nursing community is thankful for that.