Nightingale College

In honor of the celebration of Juneteenth, the school is closed today. We want to give a brief history of what Juneteenth is and why it is important.

Juneteenth, a federal holiday since 2021 and also called Emancipation Day, marks when the Union Army’s Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of both the Civil War and slavery. This declaration came almost two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln freed all enslaved people in the Confederacy. The two-and-a-half-year delay was a result of Texas being the state with the most enslaved people and seeing only limited battles; therefore, it encountered limited Union forces. Also, Texas may have not even known that the president sent out a proclamation to free enslaved individuals since communication was far less advanced at the time. Therefore, the day that enslaved people were truly freed was on June 19, 1865.

How are you celebrating today?

Every two seconds in America, someone needs blood. Blood cannot be manufactured, meaning this need can only be met through donations. That’s why this month, to celebrate Nightingale’s Year of 10,000, we’re partnering with the American Red Cross to donate 10,000 pints of blood across the country through our Nightingale Virtual Blood Drive.

As future nurses, you have chosen a path centered on compassion and service, and your participation in our virtual blood drive could save a life. You may live in different locations across the country, but thanks to the American Red Cross, you can donate blood and help save lives wherever you are.

To donate, go to the Nightingale Virtual Blood Drive page and complete the registration form online. Please note: for your donation to count towards our drive's total, you must register only through this link: https://rcblood.org/4gcs2pZ

After donating, fill out this form to share why you are passionate about donating blood, what inspired you to participate, and any photos from your donation experience. Your submission will help us highlight these stories within our Nightingale community: https://bit.ly/4vXenYq

🎉🎓 "Ok but for real this time… I’m done 😭🎓

Second degree ✔️ BSN ✔️
Mentally unstable, academically validated."

📸 / Jeremy Sandoval

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us—both in person and online—for the Future of Nursing seminar in California. It was another successful event led by Nightingale Education Group Chief Executive Officer Mikhail Shneyder. He discussed the future of the nursing profession, challenges facing the healthcare industry, Nightingale College’s unique vision for nursing, and steps you can take to create better healthcare outcomes. Watch here:

Future Of Nursing - June 12, 2026 Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

One of the biggest myths in any career? That hard work alone keeps you moving forward. Our Provost and VP of Learner Experience Diane Longhurst Johnson shares powerful truth in this new article from Adam Mendler: “Most leaders who plateau are working incredibly hard… A career plateau isn’t a lack of drive. It’s misalignment between what the role requires and a leader’s willingness to adjust.”

At Nightingale, we believe in building adaptable, future-ready nurses who embrace change and never stop learning. Tag a nurse or future nurse who needs this reminder 💙

Read the full article →

Professional Growth: Why Some Advance and Others Plateau Higher education leaders share insights on professional growth, career stagnation, continuous learning, and career success.

"DFC 3/6 met amazing people had a blast in Tampa 🫶🏽 glad we got together after clinicals before we all left 💜" also shouted out their awesome professor Sheldon Low in Tampa Florida!

📸 / Patsy Diane

We are excited to announce that the Daisy Award is coming to Nightingale! The Daisy Award, established in 1999 by the Daisy Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, honors nurses who provide exceptional care. At Nightingale, our extraordinary nurses consistently provide compassion and care that may go unnoticed—except by those whose lives are impacted by their work. That’s why we need you. As learners, you understand how your instructors have changed your life.

You can nominate any Nightingale faculty member from Didactic, Evaluation, or Experiential Learning.

- You can submit as many nominations as you like.
- You can nominate any Nightingale faculty member from Didactic, Evaluation, or Experiential Learning.
- Submit your nomination by Aug. 1 to be considered for the first award ceremony.

Thank you for shining a spotlight on nurses who live these principles every day and for sharing your gratitude with us!

Use the form here: https://bit.ly/4av0qIG

At just 13 years old, Sydney Reep walked into a hospital room to visit their dad after his stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis. That single experience launched a decade and a half of navigating cancer, caregiving, and eventually finding their calling in nursing.

Growing up in North Idaho, Sydney’s junior high and high school years were defined by infection control, hospital visits, and helping raise their three younger siblings while their dad battled cancer. Sydney’s grandfather was also fighting leukemia. The hospital became a second home.

Then, at age 21, Sydney’s world shattered again.

They had just started classes for early childhood development when their infant daughter, Harper, became feverish and lethargic. At their grandmother’s urging, Sydney took her to the pediatric clinic. Within hours, they were rushed across the street to the ER at Kootenai Health—the same hospital where Sydney now works as a CNA.

“The doctor came in and told me my daughter had cancer,” said Sydney. “She had acute lymphoblastic leukemia with 85% blasts and an MLL rearrangement. Her chances of survival were about 40%.”

What followed was an unrelenting battle: an ambulance ride from Coeur d’Alene to Spokane; eight months at the Ronald McDonald House; multiple rounds of chemotherapy that failed to bring remission; a clinical trial; CAR T-cell therapy at Seattle Children’s that finally achieved remission in just 10 days; and a stem cell transplant. Then came devastating complications: severe graft-versus-host disease that caused Harper to pass pieces of her intestines; sepsis; ICU stays; and adenovirus that nearly took her life. At one point, Harper was so weak she couldn’t walk.

Through it all, Sydney became an expert home caregiver, managing central lines, NG tubes, TPN, lipids, IV antibiotics, and high-dose steroids. Sydney and Harper lived with family, relying on food stamps and social security while attending five medical appointments a week during the height of COVID.

A nurse friend who visited during those early terrifying days looked at Sydney and said, “You’re going to be a nurse.”

“My first thought was, ‘I never want to set foot in a hospital again after this,’” said Sydney. But the words stuck.

Read Sydney's full story here: https://nightingale.edu/blog/sydney-reeps-journey-of-resilience.html

All throughout May we want to recognize the nurses who are at the heart of our communities. There’s still time to join us in recognizing the dedication, compassion, and commitment of nurses who have impacted your life. We invite collaborators and learners to send a thank-you note to a nurse who has made an impact on your life.

Simply submit a note here: https://bit.ly/4tXZdRj