“If my story can inspire one other person, that’s a lot,” says Sabrina Van Dusen, an online RN to B.S.N. student at UCF’s College of Nursing who, together with her sisters, is among the first generation of college graduates in her family.
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.
“I started looking at the world not only through a woman’s eyes, but also through a mom’s eyes,” she says. “I became passionate about raising a healthy little girl, not only physically but mentally too.”
“I also wanted to ensure she would have a better future with the inspiration she gave me that it is never too late to go after your dreams and set the example for her to follow,” she says.
It sparked a calling in Van Dusen to follow her passion to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
“I wanted to wake up every day with a purpose,” she says.
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 — now primarily caring for her daughter with no other family support in the U.S.
“For many years, I was in survival mode,” she says. Throughout the challenges, she persevered for her daughter. “My daughter is watching and I remember how important it is for me to keep going.”
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.
In Spring 2023, she successfully graduated with her A.S.N. with the honors of making the Dean’s List, joining Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and being a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Shortly after graduation, she passed the national registered nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-RN).
“I work hard, and always strive for the best,” she says.
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’s degree in nursing (B.S.N.).
“I wanted to go a reputable school and UCF is a really good nursing school,” she says of the program, which is ranked among the nation’s best.
“UCF was also giving me the opportunity to succeed,” she says. “I didn’t know how I was going to be able to balance mom life, student life and work life.”
Van Dusen says what sets UCF’s program apart is its flexibility and support from admissions counselors.
“UCF allowed me the ability to learn at my own pace,” she says. “They allow students to add classes or reduce classes, depending upon how life is going. That was important to me.”
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’s College of Nursing awards more than 100 of annually.
“It’s such a blessing as a single mom without any help,” she says of the scholarships. “It’s not only the help, but it’s the fact that someone is reading your story and decides help you. They believe in you, and that means a lot.”
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 — and in the life of her biggest fan.
Her daughter, now 8, says that her mom likes to help people and is her hero.
“I get emotional,” says Van Dusen of her daughter. “She’s the reason why I went back to school, and that’s the reason why I became a nurse — to make a difference in people’s lives.”
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.
“Nurses have a holistic care approach to health, including mental health,” she says. “It’s important to learn how to talk to patients, to educate them.”
Of continuing to pursue her education, she says there’s a saying in Spanish for that.
“Now that I’m dancing, I’ll keep dancing,” she says. “Now that I’m in school, I’ll keep going.”
“Once I became a mom, I became passionate about kids and it is the reason I have decided to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner,” Van Dusen says. “I want to help parents build a solid foundation of health and wellness so that children can develop into physically and emotionally healthy adults.”
“People tend to get overwhelmed and think they can’t do it,” she says. Her advice, “Don’t overwhelm yourself with it. Just take one class at a time, and try. You never know.”
