{"id":144313,"date":"2024-12-10T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T14:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=144313"},"modified":"2025-04-14T12:15:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T16:15:34","slug":"doctoral-degree-creates-full-circle-moment-for-ucf-nursing-graduate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/doctoral-degree-creates-full-circle-moment-for-ucf-nursing-graduate\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctoral Degree Creates \u2018Full Circle Moment\u2019 for UCF Nursing Graduate"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cGrowing up in low-income housing, under the veil of poverty, I have a unique perspective of the plight of those who are less fortunate and it allows me to understand their predicament and the unique barriers they must overcome,\u201d says Monique Prince, who graduates this week from UCF with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When Prince was 8, she contracted a serious illness from a tick bite and received care at a free clinic. \u201cWhile I do not remember much about the visit, I do remember the provider,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Prince says the provider took time to explain to her mother what to do to manage her symptoms and when to go to a hospital. He even stayed late to give Prince a liter of fluid before they left. \u201cHe was the epitome of servant provider, and I just hope that one day, I can be an inspiration to someone like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a first-generation college graduate who is the oldest of five siblings and mom to a six-year-old son, Prince is already an inspiration to many.<\/p>\n

\u201cObtaining a terminal degree demonstrates the highest level of educational attainment and reflects a dedication to lifelong learning which are traits that I wish to pass on to my siblings and my son,\u201d Prince says.<\/p>\n

Increasing Screenings to Save Lives<\/h2>\n

With the knowledge gained in UCF\u2019s family nurse practitioner program<\/a>, Prince plans to promote better patient outcomes especially in at-risk populations. She is already making a positive impact with her doctoral scholarly project, which she plans to continue.<\/p>\n

Prince deployed a quality improvement project to increase colon cancer screening rates in a primary care office. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. Since it can often go undetected, screenings are critical and most deaths can be prevented with regular screenings.<\/p>\n

\u201cColon cancer affects African Americans and Hispanics at a higher prevalence than other ethnicities,\u201d Prince says. \u201cBeing of both decent, I felt a responsibility to look for solutions to increase screening rates by spreading awareness about alternative methods of screening.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the project, Prince sought to improve screening rates at a local clinic by increasing the utilization of a blood-based screening for eligible patients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best colon cancer screening is the one that the patient actually completes,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

For patients who declined tradition colon cancer screening, the clinic offered the blood-based testing as an alternative. The blood test option was completed when patients needed other bloodwork, and therefore, no extra needlestick was involved. The results: 100% of eligible patients accepted the alternative screening resulting in more patients getting screened overall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project was successful and it improved care of patients at the rural practice where Monique works,\u201d says Jean Davis<\/a>, nursing assistant professor. \u201cIt has the potential to be replicated to improve patient care at other practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding a Calling in Nursing<\/h2>\n

Nursing wasn\u2019t the initial career plan for Prince. She initially wanted to be lawyer.<\/p>\n

After graduating with a bachelor\u2019s degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt, she worked as a paralegal for several years in every facet of law.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I could not find any aspect that interested me,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Her mother, who is a nurse, helped her find her calling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to drop something off for her at work one day, which I definitely think was a set up, and she talked me into shadowing her for a few hours,\u201d Prince says.<\/p>\n

It worked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw the impact that she had on patients and the relationships she built,\u201d Prince says. \u201cWhen I left there, I knew that I wanted to make a difference just like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

She began her nursing career at age 25 as a home health aide with an agency that offered free training. Since then, she has advanced her education and career \u2014 becoming a certified nursing assistant, a licensed practical nurse, a registered nurse, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in nursing and then master\u2019s degree in nursing, and now her doctoral degree from UCF.<\/p>\n