For Rosemarie Moretti (BScN ’19, MA ’24), the memory of her father’s near-fatal cardiac event — and the compassionate nurses who helped save his life — remains deeply etched in her heart.

The experience, combined with an “aha” moment during her first visit to Brock University’s nursing simulation lab, confirmed her calling.

“I walked in and just sighed with relief; I knew I was meant to be here,” the Brock graduate says of her time on campus.

When her studies got underway, Moretti only felt more assured in her decision to pursue nursing as a career and a passion.

It quickly became clear that Brock’s Nursing program was designed to help students succeed, she says.

“The simulation labs taught us to how to engage with patients — to really talk to them,” Moretti says. “Often, patients are having the worst day of their life. That’s where empathy, emotional intelligence and patient-centred care matter just as much as technical skills.”

Today, she works as a Public Health Nurse in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program at Niagara Region Public Health, supporting new mothers with infant feeding, parenting, behaviour management and access to community resources.

Amid the global nursing shortage, Moretti still finds inspiration in quiet acts of compassion, knowing the impact these subtle nuances can have.

Julia Mcneaney (BScN ’24) knows all too well how a simple gesture can change everything.

The registered nurse at Niagara Health was first drawn to health care as a child during hospital visits with her grandparents.

“I remember a nurse blowing up a glove like a balloon to make us laugh. I knew then the kind of nurse I wanted to be,” she says.

Mcneaney began her Brock studies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking classes online and adapting quickly. When the opportunity arose to take on a leadership role with the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association, she stepped up, eventually serving as president of the Brock chapter from 2022-24.

“Brock is where I discovered my ability to build a community of nurses across Canada. These connections have stayed with me to this day,” she says. “It’s like no other school because we’re given opportunities others simply don’t have.”

Mcneaney shared her journey in a full-circle moment at a recent Brock pinning ceremony — a rite of passage celebrating the success of the University’s Nursing students and affirming their commitment to providing compassionate, ethical and skilled care.

“It was the best choice I’ve ever made,” Mcneaney says of enrolling at the University. “Brock prepared me for becoming a nurse; it was a seamless transition.”

The impact of Brock University graduates and students is felt in health care throughout Niagara and beyond, supported by partnerships with many local organizations.

“Niagara Health is proud to have a long-standing partnership with Brock University,” says Simon Akinsulie, the organization’s Executive Vice-President, Practice, Clinical Support and Chief Nursing Executive. Brock signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the organization in 2019.

“Each year, we welcome hundreds of passionate Nursing students into our clinical departments, where they gain invaluable hands-on experience in patient care and work with our Niagara Health team,” he says. “Many of our incredible staff are Brock Nursing graduates, and we continue to welcome new grads who bring compassion, skill and dedication to our teams. As Brock University marks its 60th anniversary, we celebrate our shared commitment to shaping the future of health care and look forward to many more years of partnership.”

Those strong connections bode well Brock’s future Nursing graduates like third-year student Meredith Kuipers Santana.

Through her studies, Kuipers Santana has developed a broad understanding of regional health care through the University’s diverse clinical placement opportunities.

“I’ve been placed in community hospitals to tertiary care centres, to regional long-term care homes, rehabilitation and community care settings,” she says. “Moving between these environments has given me invaluable insights into the nursing profession and the nuances of care across Niagara.”