Each month, we profile a graduate of Curry College for our email newsletter @Curry.  Those profile stories are listed here to demonstrate the impact Curry alumni have on their communities and professions in a wide range of career fields.  For more stories on successful Curry alumni, visit the page dedicated to our National Alumni Council.  For more information on our monthly email newsletters or to suggest a profile subject, contact Manager of Alumni and Parent Relations Christian Gordon at 617-333-2327 or alumni@curry.edu. 

Julisa Burgos '99

As a nurse at the number one ranked pediatric cardiovascular hospital in the world, Children's Hospital Boston, Julisa Burgos '99 must be prepared for anything at anytime.  As a nurse in the "step down" unit (just below intensive care) she deals on a daily basis with the most delicate patients in the most delicate circumstances.  Julisa credits much of her success to the education and experience she gained while at Curry, "I am the nurse I am today because of Curry College."

Due to the intense nature of cardiac issues the orientation program and training regimens are rigorous.  Children's Hospital uses a Preceptor system where a new nurse is paired with a veteran, or Preceptor, who helps bring him or her along. 

"I developed my Preceptor style based on my instructors at Curry," said Julisa of her preceptor experience.  "I can't stress enough the most important aspect is to develop critical thinking to be able to apply the knowledge you have absorbed."

A Level 2 Nurse like Julisa must demonstrate leadership skills and command the respect of fellow level 2 nurses.  In addition to precepting nursing students, Julisa has become a Group Leader and Coordinator for her precept group.  She is also teaching cardiac and arrhythmia assessments to nurses hired on her floor.  As part of her level 2 responsibilities Julisa also teaches "Mock Codes" where the staff is lead through worst case scenarios in practice in order to prepare for the real thing.

While still a student at Curry, Julisa did clinicals at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Brockton VA Hospital, the South Shore Hospital and the Brockton School System.  She complimented the tail end of her studies by working as a Nurse's Assistant at the Boston Medical Center where she was hired as a nurse after graduation.

At Curry, Julisa developed a world perspective through her participation in the first Curry International Program which brought instructors and students to Jamaica.  The program has since grown at Curry; students and faculty recently visited China.  After two years at Boston Medical Center Julisa joined the Travel Nursing Program and worked for a few years in Miami. 

"By that time I had seen and done it all from gunshots to accidents to serious illness.  Everything I saw and everything I learned at Curry really kept me on my toes and kept me prepared."

Today Julisa is moving steadily towards level 3 status by advancing her training and teaching resume, presenting at conferences around the world including Madrid and Geneva, leading the mentorship program on her floor and conducting research on the effects of death and morbidity on the nursing community. 

Nursing is a dynamic and growing field and Curry College continues a long tradition of preparing not only highly skilled graduates but leaders in the field.  Hopefully, you won't have to meet Julisa in her professional setting, but it is reassuring to know she and many other highly skilled Curry Nursing graduates are there.