SXU Grad Nursing Student Awarded Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarship
Saint Xavier University (SXU) graduate nursing student Claire Morrison, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, RNC-MNN, has been awarded the Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarship.
To be considered, Morrison was required to submit an essay sharing how the U.S. Army has impacted her life.
"My father is a retired Army Colonel and served honorably for over 20 years. His leadership, dedication to family and community, and demonstration of service and sacrifice made me the person I am today," said Morrison.
Morrison, who earned her BSN in 2014, began working on the postpartum unit of Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, a nationally recognized Level I Trauma Center and Level IV NICU, after graduating. In 2016, she began outpatient work as an OBGYN triage nurse and perinatal hospice navigator, and in 2018, she returned to inpatient work as a clinical mentor. In 2020, she returned to the bedside to open a new COVID-19 case unit within the hospital, which is when she most profoundly felt her father's impact on her.
"Serving during that time was one of the hardest things I ever experienced. My father and my military upbringing instilled in me the courage to persevere and cultivated my commitment to servant leadership. One of the most important things my father taught me was to lead from the front -- never ask something of someone you would not first require of yourself. To lead is to put the needs of others before ourselves," said Morrison.
Now, Morrison continues her work as a clinical mentor focused on onboarding and transition to practice support of women's health nurses, dual certified in maternal newborn nursing and professional development. After working as a nurse for 10 years, though, she was ready to take on her next challenge and knew a strong MSN program would prepare her for future career opportunities and deepen her appreciation for evidence-based practice.
"I originally learned about SXU because of the outstanding U.S. News & World Report ranking for online MSN degrees. I knew I would need a program that was achievable while working full-time and one that would push me toward academic excellence. Other things that attracted me to SXU were the Military Friendly® designation and dedication to affordability," said Morrison.
Morrison was initially drawn to nursing out of a deep desire to help others and looks forward to expanding her knowledge base at SXU.
"Nursing is a remarkable profession wherein we can appreciate the beauty of science and still be captivated by the intangible things that make us human. I know my experiences in the program are setting me up for success for future nursing positions. My experience thus far has been incredible. Our professors have found amazing ways to help us stay engaged during the online learning process. I feel a strong connection to the class, despite learning from afar," said Morrison.
After she graduates, Morrison and her husband would like to travel to Scotland. Professionally, she looks forward to growing in her current role and supporting peers considering returning to school. She also hopes to continue her studies toward a doctoral degree and eventually become a Magnet program director, Joint Commission surveyor, or nursing professor.
"We congratulate Claire on this significant achievement and her commitment to advancing her nursing career. We are honored to have her as part of our University community!" said Colleen O’Hearn, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, director of Graduate Nursing.