Brenda Coupar ’09, DNP’18, an Army veteran and proud alum of the Traditional BSN and DNP programs, shares her nursing journey.
Tell us about your nursing journey. Why did you choose nursing, and what has your career been like so far?
I didn’t choose nursing. Nursing chose me. When I was twelve, my grandma had a stroke and came to live with us for a couple of years. I had to take help care for her at a young age, and that was overwhelming.
I’m also an Army veteran. When I joined the Army, two of my girlfriends were going into nursing and encouraged me to do the same. Initially, I said “No way,” but nursing found me. I served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from 2000-2007 and was deployed for fourteen months for Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005 as a motor transport operator and combat lifesaver. Helping people in that role made me want to work in health care.
When I came home, I started doing prerequisites. Now I’ve been a nurse for sixteen years.
Why did you choose the UW–Madison School of Nursing DNP program?
I chose the UW–Madison School of Nursing for a lot of reasons. One, I lived in the Madison area and didn’t want to do online school. I had already gone here for undergrad, so I knew what to expect.
I also found out that UW–Madison finds preceptors for students, which is a huge advantage since other schools don’t always do that.
I contacted the professors I knew before applying, and they encouraged me to go for it.
“I didn’t choose nursing. Nursing chose me.”
What do you like about the School and the DNP program?
What I like most is the beautiful School of Nursing building. On the days I had class, I loved staying on campus all day, using study rooms with dry-erase boards, and working with friends to hone our skills. The building even has locked rest areas where I could take naps when fatigued!
Beyond that, I loved the cohort model. Being with the same group throughout the program fostered a sense of community. Those people are still my friends. It was motivating to go through such a big life change with reliable peers. I just adore everyone who was on the journey with me.
What advice would you give someone interested in the DNP program?
Talk to people who are practicing. Begin with the end in mind. See if your workplace offers scholarships or support. Look into job opportunities in your region.
Talk to people who’ve been through the program and ask for advice. Also, talk with your family and peers—who can support me in this? if you have family or children, they’re part of getting this degree, too.
Visit the School of Nursing, ask questions, and really understand what you’re getting into. It’s a big commitment.
“Nurses are the change agents in health care. Wherever the future is, we are there.”
Can you tell us about your experience as a teaching assistant?
I was in the Army and had education benefits to use, but I was fifteen credits short. I found out I could be a teaching assistant here. I did it for a whole year, and it was an incredible learning opportunity. They paid for tuition and even covered summer tuition if you were in the spring semester. You get a monthly stipend and learn so much.
That experience helped me later during the COVID pandemic when I worked briefly as a backfill educator at the School of Nursing.
What is a Badger nurse?
A Badger nurse is somebody who can make a difference. They give you the tools to change the world.
If something isn’t working in your facility, being a Badger nurse gives you the guts to make practice changes and not just accept this is the way we always do things. You don’t have to be a nurse manager or chief executive to lead—Badger nurses lead wherever they are.
What does the future of nursing look like?
The future of nursing looks bright. It’s adaptable and full of technology. Nurses are the change agents in health care. Wherever the future is, we are there.
How do you hope to transform the future of nursing through your work?
I was trained in primary care, but work as a specialty nurse practitioner in the podiatry department. I’m wound care and foot care certified and focus on wound healing and amputation prevention.
Through that work, I want to make a difference in individual patients’ lives and impact the system I work in. I hope my work influences other facilities. I also mentor and encourage staff. Leaving a mark is important to me.
Interview transcript formatted by Copilot and then edited and reviewed by Liz Fitzpatrick.