Danae Cole
Class of 2009
The first day that Danae Cole walks into a patient's room as a professional nurse—freshly graduated from The University of Iowa— she won't be nervous.
The reason is simple: Contributors to the UI have helped the UI College of Nursing prepare Danae for her career in uniquely valuable ways.
For instance, Danae, a Des Moines native, has had extensive experience working in the college's Nursing Clinical Education Center (NCEC). The college has used gift funds to establish and operate NCEC, a 20,000—square—foot center that includes an 11-room practice clinic where Danae has learned to administer sophisticated care in simulated exam rooms and other lifelike settings.
"Working in NCEC has given me extra confidence," Danae says, expressing her thanks to contributors who have helped make the experience possible. "I've been able to practice assesment and treatment skills in a safe environment where I can make and fix mistakes, and learn from them."
Danae has also recieved financial assistance from the college, thanks to private gifts, and she is grateful for the scholarship support that has allowed her to devote herself to learning her profession. For instance, the college worked with Danae to design and independent honors project presenting her discoveries from a private trip to the Demorcatic Republic of Congo, where she worked with malaria and HIV/AIDS patients and helped vaccinate children in a local clinic.
"Receiving scholarships has made it possible for me to concentrate on my studies and bring my personal experiences into my education, and opportunities like the NCEC have really helped me prepare for the real world of nursing," Danae who plans a career in women's health and working with underserved populations, says. "I'm pursuing all my goals at the UI. It's been a great experience!"
