Danielle is a terrific mentor, leader, and educator, initially inspired by her mother - an unofficial nurse - that took care of people through a premise of love. Even though pursuing medicine crossed her mind, Danielle wanted to take care of people immediately. This took her down the nursing path as a profession. She recalls when her track coach propelled her to space after being brought down by her guidance counselor. It was at that moment that Danielle understood that it didn’t matter where she came from, her background, or the money in the bank account, she could take the world by storm.

She then goes deep into her experience in the nursing profession, sharing how it has changed over the years, and her thoughts on the great exodus occurring right now in the field. She recognizes that keeping people motivated to enter or stay in nursing is a multifactorial issue. Employers today need to consider payment, education, and how institutions can give professionals a good environment to thrive.

DNPs of Color is Danielle’s passion and purpose, and she reflects deeply on how she started the organization, its mission, and where they are right now. Finding people that look like you, and have a similar if not the same background, is hard for people of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community, that’s why Danielle started DNPs of Color. The nonprofit has three pillars: networking, mentorship, and advocacy, and Danielle shares how these are key to success within the community.

Every profession has a good, bad, and ugly part to it, but Danielle explains why nursing is beautiful and fulfilling. She also talks about entering the nursing world, how it needs to be important to consider the future you want to have, and then working backwards from that point.

Tune in to this wonderful story of never giving up and pushing boundaries!