Small town nursing student dreams big

Nursing student, Emma Jagasia, has big dreams. She says, as a future nurse, her goal is to improve patient care. That’s her main mission.

“USF Nursing is training me to dream big,” Jagasia said. “I decided to become a nurse because I want to improve patient care in impoverished communities. USF has given me the proper training and clinical experience to do so.”

Jagasia came to USF Nursing in 2014 from a small town in Tennessee. Since then, she has accomplished big things – staying involved within the university and the community.

Jagasia is the president of the USF Nursing Student Association and also a volunteer at USF Nursing’s CARE Tampa Bay, a free clinic that provides education and support for people suffering with heart disease, cancer and neuropathy.

“I help serve patients at the clinic alongside my peers and professors because it’s my passion to care for my community,” Jagasia said. “That’s my number one priority as a nursing student.”

Jagasia dedicates her kindness and compassion to CARE Tampa Bay leaders and USF Nursing faculty members, Cindy Tofthagen, PhD, assistant professor and director of the oncology concentration and Connie Visovsky, PhD, associate dean for student affairs and community engagement.  She said, their life-changing work in the community inspires her every day.

“I am proud to help Dr. Tofthagen and Dr. Visovsky change lives,” Jagasia said. “I feel so lucky to be taught and trained by the best and the brightest. Because of them, I know exactly what kind of nurse I want to be.”

Jagasia’s ultimate goal is to get into a pediatric residency program, so she could eventually open her own mobile pediatric clinic in underprivileged communities. She expects to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in nursing from USF in May 2016.

If you or a fellow student is accomplishing great things at USF Nursing, let us know here.

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