Thalia Bowie, DNP, aprn, fnp-c
Class: 2021, 2023
Major: Nursing
Current employer: Boston VA Medical Center
Current title: Nurse Practioner Resident
How did Regis help prepare you for life after graduation?
Regis gave me great clinical experiences to help me become a confident nurse practitioner. Our nursing affiliation with the Boston VA encouraged me to apply to a nurse practitioner residency program with the VA. Through my clinical rotations, I quickly learned how much I enjoyed caring for our nation's veterans, and that the VA hospital was a very special environment that I wanted to work in. On my very first day at the VA, I saw an old Regis professor who now works at the VA and felt right at home.
Tell me about your career and current job.
After completing my BSN in 2021, I worked as a registered nurse in the home care setting while continuing my education at Regis in the BSN-DNP program with a focus on becoming a family nurse practitioner. After finishing my graduate degree and passing my boards, I started my work with the VA in their geriatrics and extended care nurse practitioner residency program to transition my role into first-year NP clinical practice.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
Since I was 10 years old I knew I wanted to be a nurse practitioner. My pediatrician was a physician assistant and she pushed me into the field of medicine. Obtaining my DNP is my biggest accomplishment. Completing the BSN-DNP program was a challenging journey that pushed me to learn and grow, making my 10-year-old self proud.
What are some life lessons you learned at Regis that have served you well throughout your career?
As a student-athlete, I learned the importance of teamwork and buying into a mutual goal. I learned how to get back up and try again when things do not go as expected. These skills translate beyond athletics and help me in my NP practice. Health care is a team sport and requires ongoing collaboration with the interdisciplinary team with the common goal of improving patient care. Regis helped me learn these skills in a safe setting to build my confidence. As a leader now, I apply these on a larger scale in my role in the health care setting.
What advice do you have for current students or recent graduates?
My advice for current students is to stay the course. There were numerous times during my graduate degree when I wasn't sure if I could complete my degree. Remember to take it one step at a time; staying the course will benefit you greatly in the long run!