CU Nursing - Commencement December 2021 - 2

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BY THE NUMBERS
GRADUATION &
CONVOCAT ION
2 0 21
Ever since she can
remember, Danyelle
Gilbert wanted
to be a nurse
Danyelle and her sister support each
other through good and bad times
By Dana Brandorff
s a native Coloradan and first-generation
college student, Danyelle Gilbert was
encouraged by her mother to pursue higher
education, but it was her eldest sister who
was the reason she wanted to become a
nurse. Love for nursing came from an intimate
encounter with her sister who has lived with a lupus diagnosis
since the age of 14. " She was recovering from one of many
surgeries and I was helping her bathe when she confided that
she felt she was a burden, " says Gilbert. " At that moment, I
saw her, she was at her most exposed, vulnerable, and raw.
I felt honored that she shared that information with me and
allowed me to care for her. " That encounter provided a truly
authentic connection that motivates Gilbert to meet people
where they are and to create an environment of trust. She
tries to do that with every person and patient she meets.
A
A PASSION FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Her true passion lies in maternal and child health and
changing the abysmal mortality rates for women of color in
this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women
are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancyrelated
causes than white women; this disparity increases
with age. " Most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
I had such a wonderful experience giving birth at Rose
Hospital. It was a safe space. I felt comfortable and heard. I
CU College of Nursing | December 2021
want that for all women, " says Gilbert.
Unfortunately, for many women of color
that is not the case.
Gilbert wants to guide and help the
process and " put health institutions
in a place where they are culturally
competent and better able to treat
and hear patients. " As part of the
Colorado Council of Black Nurses, she
embraces the organization's mission
to achieve representation, health
equity, and cultural competency.
" Steve Jobs said, 'The people who are
crazy enough to think they can change
the world are the ones who do.'
Though hesitant to call my sanity
into question, I do plan to change
the world. "
MEDICAL CHALLENGE LEADS TO
TEMPORARY PAUSE AND RESET
Originally scheduled to graduate
with her Bachelor of Science degree
in May 2021, Gilbert faced her own
medical challenge and had to take
a semester off from the program
to recover from life-threatening
complications due to a knee
injury. Having never encountered
a serious health issue before, she
felt discouraged. " I couldn't believe
that such a minor injury would
unexpectedly turn into something
much worse and would end up
interrupting my plans. " She turned to
her sister. " Through her, I've learned
that life comes at you, and you have
to live it and make the best of it. Life is
tough, and you may experience things
that delay your progress to your goals.
Ultimately, if you have a passion, you
persevere and keep moving forward. "
Spending time taking care of
herself and doing some self-reflection
during her time away from the
program, she " ended up valuing
where I was. I was so grateful to
everyone at CU. This situation was a
temporary setback. " With future plans
to pursue midwifery and owning her
own practice, Gilbert is on track to
graduate in December 2021 with her
BS and become the change agent
she aspires to be.
90 Undergraduate
Nursing Students
115 Master's
19 Post-Graduate
Certificates
18 DNP
3 PhD
CU Nursing - Commencement December 2021

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