Exploring the World and Finding Purpose in Nursing at NYU

Gaining New Perspectives on Community and Care

Funded by NYU’s Opportunity Programs, Emmaley took her first trip abroad as a sophomore during January Term. She visited Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast in Ghana, learning about each city’s rich tribal background. Her travels led her to reflect on her own roots and understanding of community. “I had an amazing time focusing on different aspects of identity, history, and cultural connections,” she shares. “This experience let me step outside my comfort zone and engage with another culture in a very meaningful way.”

That same year, after her spring semester, Emmaley joined the NYU chapter of the VAW Global Health Alliances for a medical internship in Peru. The group spent two weeks helping doctors, pharmacists, and other team members treat patients in local clinics. “NYU has a lot of programs where you can go abroad to help underserved communities,” Emmaley explains. “Seeing the differences in access to care really shaped me. Even in Manhattan, we see health disparities. A lot of it is education—people don’t know the resources available to them. As a nurse, I can be an advocate and promote health equity. That’s really cool.”

As a junior, Emmaley further explored issues of equity during an Opportunity Programs trip to Los Angeles over spring break. Built around the theme of Liberation in Action, the trip connected her with cultural leaders addressing disparities in their communities. These interactions reinforced Emmaley’s desire to be a positive force for change as a nurse, especially when caring for vulnerable populations. “I want to promote equity and liberation for all,” she says. “This trip definitely influenced my perspective.”

Real-World Learning with Patients, Providers, and Peers

Of course, Emmaley’s time in New York City has also made its mark. Her clinical courses, which provide practical experience with patients, have been her favorites by far. “Nursing clinicals are so much fun. I love them,” she says. “NYU Meyers offers amazing resources for gaining experience and connections.”

As an Interprofessional Education (IPE) Scholarship recipient, Emmaley has been learning alongside NYU medical and pharmacy students at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. Through this program, she’s building skills in interdisciplinary teamwork and witnessing how collaboration improves health outcomes. She and her peers even join patient rounds, where nurses, physicians, physical therapists, and other health-care professionals meet to discuss patient care plans.

“Working with other students in different roles in the medical field is an essential tool for developing communication, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of comprehensive patient care,” she says. “The curriculum really promotes team-based care. We’re figuring out the problem and solution collaboratively. It’s not a hierarchy where we just follow orders.”

For a population health course, Emmaley gained experience at a community center near NYU’s Washington Square campus. There, she took community members’ blood pressure, distributed educational flyers, and even assisted with Tai Chi classes to promote mobility and well-being.

New Opportunities Ahead

Looking ahead to her senior year, Emmaley is both excited and nervous. She’ll have even more clinical courses and is especially eager to gain experience in labor and delivery, which aligns with her long-term goal to work in women’s health and pediatrics. She also plans to apply to the Meyers dual-degree program, which allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s in five years. The program allows students to start taking classes that count towards their master’s degree during the last semester of their senior year.

“This opportunity feels like such an important step toward advancing my education and career,” Emmaley reflects. “I didn’t come to NYU thinking I was going to do all these things, but there are so many opportunities offered here. My experience as an NYU student has been filled with so many unexpected joys.”