Research

Equip to Lead

Nikaella Mariano, a BSN junior student, reflects on her time at the ACNL Conference.
Student presenting a poster

Nikaella Mariano, a BSN junior student, presented her poster at the ACNL Conference. The topic was “Revitalizing Rural Nursing Education,” which she has been researching since attending the AACN Student Policy Summit in 2024 with Dean Fry-Bowers.

Nikaella Mariano has deepened her understanding and nursing advocacy skills by participating in the Philippine Nurses Association of Northern California in 2023, the 2024 AACN Student Policy Summit, the Asia-Bridge Junior Fellowship, and the McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco. 

Nikaella, a dedicated force in the nursing field, is committed to making a significant difference in our communities. Her impactful projects include:

  • Her project, Beyond the Nursing Brain Drain. The Plight of Transnational Migration and its Impacts on the Philippines' Healthcare System 2023- 2024 is a crucial exploration of a pressing issue.
  • Her poster, Revitalizing Rural Nursing Education: Exploring the Importance of Bridging Gaps and Extending Connections to Medically Underserved Populations, Spring 2024, calls for continuing to investigate healthcare challenges and highlight USF's progress and commitment.
  • Her work, Health Advocacy in Action at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, consisted in a remote baseline evaluation and follow-up screenings at the 6M Children's Health Center in Fall 2024.
Student next to ribbons
The theme of the 2025 conference was Diversifying the Nursing Landscape,
emphasizing embracing our differences to shape an equitable future. 
Participants were invited to recognize and honor their roots on ribbons,
which formed a large backdrop that put into perspective how interwoven
our cultures are!

This Spring, 2025, Nikaella successfully presented her work at the ACNL Annual Conference.

"On the opening day, I found myself juggling several tasks: presenting my poster, attending keynote presentations, and supporting over 90 other presenters with their team projects. The topics varied widely, from shaping clinical practice through quality assurance and improvement measures in their units to redefining nursing education via research and preceptorship. Each presenter had a compelling story highlighting their mission and dedication to enhancing their unit, facility, community, and profession," shared Nika. 

We are very proud of Nikaella and how she's embracing our values: Nikaella's commitment to excellence instills a sense of pride and reassurance in all of us, as it reflects responsibility, accountability, professionalism, and a desire for personal growth and lifelong learning. Nikaella's ethical practice, which reflects humanistic ideals and upholds each individual's inherent dignity and worth, is a testament to her respect and value for others. Lastly, her scholarly inquiry seeks the best evidence and promotes the highest scientific integrity.

We are truly grateful for her commitment to nursing advocacy and its positive impact on our community.

Student sitting at a conference table with attendees
Student taking a picture with other people in front of a sign that says "SafeSeizure"
Student with three other people in front of a research poster
Two people taking a picture together
Two people taking a picture together in front of a research poster
An evening reconnecting with beloved colleagues from the Philippine Nurses Association team at Stanford, Dr. Dale Beatty and Dr. Janet Moreno.
With Safe Seizure co-founders Joey Ferry and Taofiki Gafar-Schaner (and their team), they developed a safety device to help patients prone to seizures (as opposed to the previous tactic of RNs "padding" side rails with spare blankets and loose bandages).
With nursing leaders: Tia Newell (Assoc CNE at KPNorCal), Nicole Barnett (CEO of Planned Parenthood NorCal), and Vanessa Martinez (Sr. Director of KPNorCal).
Reconnecting with Christina Oldini of Stanford and USFCA, whom I had also first met through the PNANC! We continue to keep in touch to this day!
With Andrew Riccio (USFCA alum!) and Anjeleena Singh (not pictured) supporting their research project implementation!
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