Skip to main content
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals
Menu

Mobile Main navigation

  • About
    • Accreditation
    • Alumni
    • Blog
    • Chamberlain Care
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Newsroom
    • Online Education
    • Our Vision
    • Student Consumer Information
  • Academics
    • College of Nursing
      • 3-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Options
      • Certificate Programs
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • College of Health Professions
      • Public Health Certificate Programs
      • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
    • Academic Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • College Catalog
      • Curriculum Plans
  • Campus & Online
    • Campus
    • AZ - Phoenix
    • CA - Irwindale
    • CA - Sacramento
    • FL - Jacksonville
    • FL - Miramar
    • GA - Atlanta
    • IL - Addison
    • IL - Chicago
    • IL - Tinley Park
    • IN - Indianapolis
    • LA - New Orleans
    • MI - Troy
    • MO - St. Louis
    • NV - Las Vegas
    • NJ - North Brunswick
    • NC - Charlotte
    • OH - Cleveland
    • OH - Columbus
    • TX - Houston
    • TX - Irving
    • TX - Pearland
    • TX - San Antonio
    • VA - Tysons Corner
    • BSN Online Option
    • Post-Licensure & Graduate
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Option
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
      • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
  • Admission & Financial Aid
    • Admission
      • Transfer Guide
      • Catalog
      • Academic Calendar
      • Military Information
    • Financial Aid
      • Tuition & Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Forms
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
      • Loans
      • Work Study
      • Grants
      • Scholarships

Mobile Secondary Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Mobile Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
  • Transfers
  • Military
  • Alumni
  • Partners
  • Employers

Top Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Information For
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfers
    • Military
    • Alumni
    • Partners
    • Employers
  • Chat
  • 877.751.5783
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Main Header navigation

  • About

    About

    Chamberlain University has a 130-year history preparing extraordinary nursing graduates and healthcare professionals. 

    • Accreditation
    • Alumni
    • Blog
    • Chamberlain Care
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Newsroom
    • Online Education
    • Our Vision
    • Student Consumer Information
  • Academics

    Academics

    Whether you're an aspiring nurse looking to launch a rewarding career, a nursing professional looking to advance your career, or a professional looking to impact public health, Chamberlain offers the degree programs, options and resources to help you succeed.

    • College of Nursing
      • 3-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Options
      • Certificate Programs
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • College of Health Professions
      • Public Health Certificate Programs
      • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
    • Academic Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • College Catalog
      • Curriculum Plans
  • Campus & Online

    On Campus & Online

    Interested in becoming a nurse?
    Earn your BSN at one of 23 campuses located across the country, in just 3 years

    • Campus
    • AZ - Phoenix
    • CA - Irwindale
    • CA - Sacramento
    • FL - Jacksonville
    • FL - Miramar
    • GA - Atlanta
    • IL - Addison
    • IL - Chicago
    • IL - Tinley Park
    • IN - Indianapolis
    • LA - New Orleans
    • MI - Troy
    • MO - St. Louis
    • NV - Las Vegas
    • NJ - North Brunswick
    • NC - Charlotte
    • OH - Cleveland
    • OH - Columbus
    • TX - Houston
    • TX - Irving
    • TX - Pearland
    • TX - San Antonio
    • VA - Tysons Corner
    • BSN Online Option Clinical in select states
    • Post-Licensure & Graduate
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Option
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
      • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
  • Admission & Financial Aid

    Admission & Financial Aid

    Chamberlain is committed to providing quality and accessible healthcare and nursing education. Our team is with you every step of the way, providing the information you need to make the decisions that best serve you.

    • Admission
      • Transfer Guide
      • Catalog
      • Academic Calendar
      • Military Information
    • Financial Aid
      • Tuition & Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Forms
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
      • Loans
      • Work Study
      • Grants
      • Scholarships

Secondary Header Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Featured

nursing student holding tablet and glancing out of a window
8 Great Reasons to Earn Your Master of…
Dr. Melani Bell mentors Chamberlain student
Why I Chose Chamberlain… Again
Nurse fist bumping with child
5 Great Reasons to Earn Your MSN Degree…

Tags

Browse articles by category
Alumni
Campus News
Careers
Health Professions
Nursing Today
Tips for Students

Share

Blog Social Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Home / Blog / Nurses Week / BSN Student Nicole Suter Cares for Patients During Shift and Voices Concern to Congressional Leaders During Off Hours

BSN Student Nicole Suter Cares for Patients During Shift and Voices Concern to Congressional Leaders During Off Hours

May 05, 2020 by Heather L Hurtado
Nicole Suter 2

Her days are full of emotional turmoil—trying to provide care and support for patients as they battle through harrowing respiratory infections. But she keeps a smile on her face and pushes herself no matter if it’s her first patient of the day or her last. And after she disinfects every inch of her being to head home, Chamberlain University’s RN to BSN student Nicole Suter, RN, doesn’t rest. Instead, she becomes an activist for those entrenched in the front lines alongside her.

“I wouldn’t have thought that my voice mattered,” said the Stanford Healthcare nurse who has reached out to congressional leaders and utilized social media platforms to motivate others in her fight for more personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. “I need to make sure they are doing everything they can for us to have the necessary tools for this pandemic. There’s a critical shortage and things are going to get worse. The deficit is putting us, our patients and their families at risk.”

Advocating for the Healthcare Team

Nicole, one of many nurses Chamberlain honors as a Portrait of Courage during this year's National Nurses Week celebration, reached out to her local constituents in San Francisco and then took it a step further, sending her message to state leaders and those housed in Washington, DC. “Our ability to provide high-quality nursing care depends on a safe and effective work environment,” she wrote in a plea letter. “Your urgent action is vital to provide the equipment I need to care for my patients—the people we both have pledged to serve. Please partner with us to combat COVID-19. Without your support and action, our country faces a devastating loss of lives.”

Some local leaders have heard Nicole’s rallying cries and responded to her directly, providing updates on their role in assisting with relief efforts:

  • U.S. California State Senator Dianne Feinstein emailed last month, saying she joined congressional colleagues in passing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide support for individuals and businesses across the country, and said Congress passed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, which was signed into law.
  • U.S. California State Senator Scott Wiener informed her that Governor Gavin Newsom signed budget bills in March to provide $500 million and up to $1 billion in financial assistance to help California fight COVID-19, and that 22.4 million N95 masks were distributed throughout the state and another 100 million had been secured. He also highlighted a local utility’s donation of nearly 1 million N95 and surgical masks to hospitals and others in need and informed her of the Defense Production Act invoked by the President that ensures the production of ventilators and medical supplies.
  • San Francisco County Mayor London Breed reported that the city received more than 1 million masks and other PPE that would be distributed to first responders, and that she expedited the hiring of more healthcare professionals and issued a stay-at-home order in mid-March to keep community members safe.

Nicole commends each one for their swift actions and promises to continue advocating for more supplies until there’s a way to vaccinate against this disease. “Every day we go in and we’re getting prepared for the worst. I want everyone to remember we are all in this together.”

Positive Energy

An Oklahoma girl at heart, Nicole served as a traveling nurse before settling in the Bay area. “I’ve been in love with the medical field since I was a kid.” And the global pandemic has not altered her mindset. “I know that I’m the best possible person to go in and do this job in the best possible way—to give back to the community at this time,” she said, adding that family support and words of encouragement push her to do more.

“Initially I was quite scared but now I’m arming myself with knowledge. It gives me comfort to know I’m doing it correctly,” referring to the donning and doffing of her PPE. “It gives me more confidence to go into that room.”  

One of Nicole’s daily challenges is staying on top of the ever-changing information about the disease and trying to relieve patient fears and anxieties about extended hospital stays without visitors. “People are very scared—they feel like they are in a cage. A lot of people are in hysteria.” But she finds a way to connect with them and embrace the positive. “We offer them a light during the scariest time in their lives and help them feel normal even though this isn’t ideal.”

Inspirational Messages

To those who watch her social media videos, Nicole offers words of encouragement— “remain calm and stay at home. We can manage you remotely. Call a triage nurse and let’s talk about your symptoms.”

And to those in the battle with her— “Thanks to all my brothers and sisters out there on the front lines who are fighting this with me. I want everyone to lead with love. Take this time to come back and reflect on ourselves. Stay at home, wash your hands and stay safe.”

 

Appreciative and Thankful  

We appreciate your commitment to the continued well-being of our Chamberlain community and support during this unprecedented time. Please visit the Chamberlain University website for the latest updates regarding COVID-19.

We thank and honor all healthcare workers through our Care for Caregivers website as well as the Chamberlain Wall of Gratitude and thank-you message.  

By Heather L Hurtado

More from Nurses Week

View all >
Chamberlain student, Sunshine Biddy in Chamberlain nursing scrub
Chamberlain Nursing Students Prepare to Graduate and Serve…
Read more
Liz Massey
Armed with a DNP, Liz Massey Hits the Ground Running to…
Read more
Coyote Harkins Cropped
New to Nursing but Full of Compassion, Coyote Harkins Jumps…
Read more
Chamberlain alumni, Rocio Sanchez with Wonder Woman mask
The Action-packed Journey of a “Nurse Wonder Woman,” on the…
Read more
Show more >

Request More Information

To receive the Chamberlain University Program Guide, including associated career paths, please select a program of study.

Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Secondary Footer Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Student Portal Login

Main Campus
Addison Campus
1221 North Swift Road
Addison, IL 60101 

National Management Offices
500 W. Monroe St, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60661

All Campus Locations
Contact

Footer Menu Column 1

  • Online Programs
  • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
  • Alumni Association
  • Chamberlain Marketplace
  • Military
  • Leadership
  • Catalog & Viewbook

Footer Menu Column 2

  • Student Portal
  • Student Consumer Info
  • Accreditation
  • Parent Organization
  • CA Performance Fact Sheets
  • CA BPPE Annual Report
  • CA BPPE Website

Footer Menu Column 3

  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Online Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Student Disability Services
  • Office of Equity and Access

Footer Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

2022 Chamberlain Universtiy LLC. All rights reserved.

Footer Menu Line 1

  • Online Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • *140,000 Chamberlain students, alumni and faculty

    † Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post graduate APRN certificate programs at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). The Chamberlain University Doctor of Nursing Practice (delivered via distance education) is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037 (202-909-2526). Chamberlain University’s Master of Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, www.ceph.org. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. Chamberlain University’s Master of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation, www.cswe.org. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Chamberlain University Physician Assistant Program. 

    To report unresolved complaints to the Illinois Board of Higher Education visit their webpage at https://complaints.ibhe.org/ or by mail to 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701-1377. View Chamberlain's complaint process.

    Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.

    Chamberlain University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com
    ©2022 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.