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Van Dusen was born in Uruguay, the smallest Spanish-speaking country in South America with a population of 3.4 million.
When she was 20, she moved to Canada and, soon after, the United States in search of greater opportunities. She got married and became a mom, which changed the way she viewed the world and gave her a broader purpose, Van Dusen says.
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It sparked a calling in Van Dusen to follow her passion to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
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Finding the Support to Succeed
While Van Dusen was taking prerequisites and preparing to enroll in nursing school, the COVID-19 pandemic began and she went through a difficult divorce 麻豆精品 S now primarily caring for her daughter with no other family support in the U.S.
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She was admitted into the competitive associate in science in nursing program at Miami-Dade College and enrolled full-time, taking out loans, to graduate and begin working as soon as possible.
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She began working full-time as an registered nurse (RN), and began the application process at UCF to enroll in the online RN to B.S.N. program, geared exclusively for licensed registered nurses to earn a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in nursing (B.S.N.).
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Van Dusen says what sets UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 program apart is its flexibility and support from admissions counselors.
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Now a senior in the program, Van Dusen is currently taking an extra class both this fall and spring in order to graduate a semester early in Spring 2025. She is also the recipient of two nursing scholarships, which UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Nursing awards more than .
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Motherhood and Making a Difference
No doubt, Van Dusen has worked hard to achieve her goals and make a positive impact on the lives of patients 麻豆精品 S and in the life of her biggest fan.
Her daughter, now 8, says that her mom likes to help people and is her hero.
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While at UCF, she works full time in a reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic in the Miami area. She works alongside doctors and providers to provide patient care, and also translates to Spanish-speaking patients.
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Of continuing to pursue her education, she says there 麻豆精品 S檚 a saying in Spanish for that.
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