Stanbridge Alum Dr. Miriam Galindo Shares Her Nursing Career Journey and Advice
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Stanbridge alum Dr. Miriam Galindo shared insights into her journey in healthcare, reflecting on her graduation from the Stanbridge University Vocational Nursing (LVN) and Associate of Science in Nursing (RN) programs and how her nursing career has evolved through education, service, and personal inspiration.
Inspiration to Pursue a Nursing Career
A profound childhood experience ignited Dr. Galindo’s passion for nursing. At nine years old, she attended a conference where Mother Teresa spoke, hearing words that would shape her life: “You don’t have to go to Calcutta to serve God. There’s enough trouble in your own backyard.” Even though she was surrounded by thousands in a football stadium, she recalls feeling Mother Teresa spoke directly to her, which became a guiding light in her nursing career.
As a teenager, she worked as a nursing assistant in a convalescent hospital, dreaming of nursing school but postponing her education due to financial constraints. Over the next three decades, she pursued psychology and social work degrees, yet her desire to become a nurse never wavered. When the time was right, she enrolled at Stanbridge University, drawn by its commitment to community service and academic excellence. “It’s never too late to be who you were born to be,” she reflects.
Nursing Education at Stanbridge University
Stanbridge University’s LVN and RN programs provided Dr. Galindo with rigorous training emphasizing academic excellence, integrity, and service. “When I attended Stanbridge University, expectations were high,” she recalls. “The message conveyed to students was that we were part of a greater mission that required seriousness, discipline, and respect.” She carried these principles into graduate studies and beyond.
One of her most impactful memories at Stanbridge was witnessing the leadership of the university’s President, Mr. Yasith Weerasuriya, during a community service event. “Mr. Weerasuriya applied the same high standards to our nursing program that he held for himself. In this way, Stanbridge University prepares us not just for nursing, but for leading with integrity.”
Lessons That Shaped Her Nursing Journey
Balancing a demanding schedule as a working student, Dr. Galindo approached her studies with an unwavering commitment. “Despite my busy schedule as a working student at Stanbridge, I studied as if something I read in my textbooks might save a life one day.” Her dedication proved invaluable in her later nursing career.
Her ability to make critical decisions was put to the test during her graduate studies in nursing. In the second week of her statistics class, her brother’s life was saved by a kidney transplant, one of her own. “I credit my study habits at Stanbridge University, as well as the real-life stories shared by our professors, for the unmatched privilege of securing a backstage pass to this miracle!”
Volunteering at Stanbridge also left a lasting impact. “To this day, I still regularly volunteer at the same facility I utilized while attending Stanbridge. My experience at this facility formed the basis of an extensive thesis. The results of that thesis evolved into a formal conference for an audience of approximately two hundred fifty people, which then led to the unexpected receipt of a Visionary Women award.”
Advice for Those Considering a Nursing Career
Dr. Galindo shares words of encouragement for those considering a nursing career: “Education is an investment that is never wasted. Patients in your future will never view your education as a waste.” She emphasizes the importance of diligence, persistence, and self-discipline in the journey to becoming a nurse.
A Holistic Approach to Patient Care and Nursing Practice
With a background in psychiatric mental health and gerontology, Dr. Galindo takes a comprehensive approach to nursing. “Rather than compartmentalizing psychology and physiology into distinct categories, I view them as inextricable variables contributing to one holistic design. Patients are holistic beings comprised of mind, body, and spirit. It’s impossible for me to parse that out.”
A Life of Service and Fulfillment Through Nursing
Looking back on her journey, Dr. Galindo finds the most fulfillment in using her knowledge and skills to help others. “The most rewarding part of the nursing journey is developing the skills and knowledge to help others achieve integrity and wholeness, mentally, spiritually, and physically.”
Dr. Miriam Galindo is a licensed clinical psychologist, social worker, registered play therapist, and doctoral-level nurse practitioner specializing in psychiatric mental health and adult-gerontology. She currently shares a private practice with her husband, where they remain committed to serving their community.
Learn more about Stanbridge University’s Vocational Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs or connect with an admissions representative through the Stanbridge Contact Page.