Lindsey Dunn '25 M'27 | Nursing Major | Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Innovation
Saint Anselm offering a graduate nursing program made going to grad school feel less daunting.
After graduating in May of 2025, Lindsey began working full-time as a nurse at Boston Medical Center while continuing her education in graduate school, taking her passion for nursing to the next level.
Why did you choose to major in nursing as an undergraduate student?
I have always wanted to be a nurse. Ever since I was a toddler I would proudly tell everyone that I was going to be a nurse. My best friend’s mom was a nurse (she is also a Saint A’s alumna!) and I thought that she was a superhero! I am not sure what my exact inspiration was, but being a nurse was my lifelong dream. Later in my life my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia, and I had the privilege of caring for her. It was caring for my grandmother that really solidified the fact that I was going to pursue a bachelor’s in nursing.
Where are you currently working as a nurse, and what does your role look like day to day?
Currently I work at Boston Medical Center on the Surgical Intermediate Care Unit. I love that I learn something new every day! I work the night shift which I really enjoy because there is a little extra time to research and learn new things. The intermediate care unit is the floor in-between a general medical-surgical floor and the intensive care unit.
How did you hear about the graduate program?
I graduated with my bachelor’s in nursing from Saint Anselm in the spring of 2025. As an undergraduate, I had heard about the possibility of there being a master’s program for nursing leadership and innovation. I did some more research into it, and I decided to apply. I was so happy to hear that Saint A’s was offering a graduate program for nursing because it made going to graduate school seem less daunting.
What has been your favorite graduate course thus far? Why?
So far, my favorite course has been Effective Leadership for Contemporary Nursing. This was one of our first classes. This course introduced us to various leadership styles. I enjoyed how we connected experiences from our own practices into the assignments. I believe this course provided a strong foundation of basic leadership principles to set us up for success as we continue in the program.
Is there a concept or idea from one of your courses that has really stuck with you? If so, have you applied this idea to your current nursing role?
Something that I have learned in each of my courses is the idea of learning from good and bad experiences. I think that as a future nursing leader it is beneficial to recognize something that you or a peer did well so you can integrate that quality into future practice. Although making mistakes or working with challenging people is not ideal, it is important to take that experience and learn from it.
How has being in the master’s program shaped how you see your future career possibilities compared to when you were finishing your bachelor’s in nursing?
Pursuing a master’s degree in nursing opens many doors in my career. With a bachelor’s in nursing, there are very few career opportunities other than working at the bedside. Although working at the bedside is a rewarding job, I do look forward to other pathways in nursing. I am not sure where my nursing career will lead but I am confident that a master’s in nursing leadership and innovation will be beneficial in any role.