Galen Student Spreads Joy to Elders One Rose at a Time 

On her final rotation at Shalom Park Nursing Home, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) student Xandra Mora arrived with her arms full — 13 bright bouquets she had picked out and paid for herself. All together, the roses added up to 156 blooms, a burst of color she hoped would bring a spark of joy to the elders she’d grown so connected to.

Before she could hand anything out, she realized she might need a quick check-in. She laughed as she remembered turning to her Galen instructor, arms overflowing with blooms, and asking, “Is this okay?”

Her instructor’s reaction still makes her smile. “She kind of just looked at the 13 bouquets of flowers that I brought, and she was like… wow.”

After she and her classmates prepped and de-thorned the roses, the nurses gave a unanimous green light: yes, go spread the joy.

When she began handing out the roses, the reactions were instant and unforgettable. “A couple of the men were like, ‘This is for me?’ And I was like, yes, this is for you. One of them was like, ‘Are you asking me out on a date?’ It was just so cute.”

And the emotion ran deep. As she moved from resident to resident, she watched surprise turn into smiles, and smiles into gratitude. She says their responses are going to stay with her for much longer than just that shift. “Every single one had different reactions, but they were either shocked, or they were just really happy.”

Weeks later, a friend who works at Shalom Park sent her photos. “She said a lot of the elders still have the roses.”

For Xandra, the experience became much more than a single act of kindness. “I always like to treat elders the way I want my grandparents to be treated,” she said. Her instinct to lead with kindness reflects the core of Galen’s approach to nursing — compassionate care that sees and honors the whole person. Xandra’s gesture is exactly the kind of connection Galen encourages students to create. 

That perspective didn’t begin at Shalom Park, though. Her affection for older adults has always come naturally. “I’ll just walk outside and I see an elderly couple and I’m like, oh my god, they’re adorable.” 

Being in the clinical setting only deepened that feeling. She realized how meaningful it was to slow down, listen, and be present. “It’s not always about giving gifts,” she said. “Patients just love when you talk to them and get to know them.” 

And the residents felt that genuine warmth. “You could tell they were very happy,” she said. “For some of them, I don’t know the last time they’d talked to somebody or had family over… but you can tell it meant a lot.”  

The goodbyes at the end of the rotation were more difficult than she expected. “It was hard, you know, saying goodbye,” she said quietly. “I said goodbye to one of them, and… his voice, when I heard it, I was like, yeah, I gotta start crying. It’s hard when you make those connections.” 

But Xandra hopes it’s more of a “see you soon” instead of a real goodbye. Her time at Shalom Park helped her realize her career aspirations. “After being there for clinicals, I think I’ve decided I want to go more into that field,” she said. Her long-term goal is to work in oncology full-time and pick up part-time shifts in a retirement home. “Specifically that home,” she added. “Because I’ve made so many connections, and I want to go back.” 

It turns out the feeling is mutual. “The director has already talked to my friend and said, ‘Why don’t you have her apply?’” 

Experiences like these have shaped the kind of nurse she hopes to become — one who leads with empathy, practices compassionate care, and never underestimates the joy that small gestures can bring.  

Her time at Shalom Park solidified her future path and gave her a deeper sense of purpose she’ll carry forward into her nursing career. 

Learn more about Galen College of Nursing’s programs and how you can start your journey.