Here’s a quick glimpse at one of many impressive outcomes HPU graduates achieve.
Name: David Lombardi, Class of 2025
Hometown: Malden, Massachusetts
Major: Nursing
Post-graduation plans: David is beginning his career as a Emergency Department Registered Nurse for Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina. As an Emergency Department Registered Nurse, he will be providing rapid assessment and critical care to patients facing life-threatening conditions, ensuring timely interventions in a fast-paced environment. David will also be collaborating closely with a team of physicians and other interdisciplinary team members to stabilize patients with high-quality care under pressure.
How HPU helped you get there: “HPU helped me prepare for this role with rigorous academic classes, hands-on clinical experiences and faculty mentorship that gave me the tools to thrive in the clinical setting. They gave me the tools to grow into a confident and compassionate nurse, enabling me to pursue my long-term goal of becoming a critical care nurse. The High Point University Teresa B. Caine School of Nursing aided me in achieving my role as an Emergency Department Nurse by granting me a spot on the unit I am now employed at for my senior capstone.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Dr. Stefanie Smoot — Assistant Professor of Nursing, was the most impactful during my journey at HPU. At the start, I was intimidated by her, but over time she saw me as a student for who I was, a perfectionist. She made sure to make sure this strength and fault did not cripple me on this journey and aided me in learning constantly. She was able to teach me good habits and practices both in and out of the clinical setting to ensure I would be prosperous in my post-grad life. I would not have pushed myself as hard and understood as much as I do now if it weren’t for her. She became my mentor and confidant, and at times it felt like my tutor but I have developed the skills through seeking out help from her. I am incredibly thankful for her.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “My most impactful moment at HPU was delivering my presidential address at the final pinning ceremony. It marked the end of nursing school and represented the culmination of all the hard work, dedication, resilience and pride I felt — both in what I had accomplished and in the purpose I was taking with me into the next chapter.”
What are the life skills HPU helped you develop that prepared you for long-term success? “HPU gave me critical life skills for long-term success by teaching me to hone my time management, use my critical thinking and always communicate professionally. These are all important in a healthcare setting to deliver timely and efficient care to patients, as well as collaborate effectively within the interdisciplinary team.”
What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation? “Beyond the classroom, HPU’s values of leadership, service, integrity and empathy were woven into my campus life and have deeply influenced the kind of nurse and person I strive and continue to be.”
Advice for underclassmen: “Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Life won’t hand out free chances or professional connections, these are things you have to chase and foster. In the end, they may lead to your future career like mine did. There is a reason the mantra is CHOOSE to be Extraordinary!”
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