When students graduate, many don’t make the decision to continue their education by returning to school. That was once true for Dr. Daniela Herrera Hernandez, the lab simulation manager for Galen College of Nursing’s Miami campus.

Hernandez joined Galen in 2022 as an adjunct faculty member for clinicals while simultaneously completing her Master of Education degree. Although she was already balancing work and school, she quickly found opportunities to grow her career and expand her impact on students.

“Once I got my master’s and all that, I did go full-time faculty. I was working in the lab at clinicals, then I did the COC, clinical onboarding coordinator, position for my campus as well. I rolled that position out, and then when the simulation lab manager position opened, I established and rolled that out as well,” Hernandez said.

Over the last several years, Hernandez has stepped into several leadership roles, helping launch new initiatives and expand the ways she supports student learning. While she always knew she wanted to work in education, she never expected her career path would inspire her to return to school…again…and pursue a doctorate.

“The support from everyone here was always amazing. I would mention, oh, I think I’m going to go back for my doctorate,’ and my co-workers were like, do it, we have all the support.’ There was a lot of flexibility when I had to be doing hours for my doctorate and things like that. So just the continuous support from the leadership on campus was huge,” Hernandez said.

Still, her proudest moment came at Galen’s most recent Miami graduation ceremony, where she celebrated not only the achievements of her students, but her own as well.

Having recently completed her doctorate, Hernandez was invited to read graduates’ names as they crossed the stage, giving her a unique perspective on a day she will never forget.

“It just really felt great to be a part of the graduation, and to be there calling the students’ names, shaking their hands as they’re walking down, and I thought I was going to be nervous, but I wasn’t,” Hernandez said.

Standing on stage as both an educator and a graduate made the experience especially meaningful. After years of balancing work, school, and professional responsibilities, it served as a reminder of how much she had accomplished and the support system that helped her get there.

Now, Hernandez hopes her story inspires others who may be considering a similar path. She wants students, faculty, and fellow nurses to know that growth does not stop after graduation and that there is never a wrong time to pursue new goals.

“A lot of people tell you, oh, you have to stay at the bedside, or, you have to do this, or these are your only options. And nursing really is such a realm of possibilities. You can go anywhere with it, and of course, bedside experience is necessary, and you’re going to need it wherever you go, but that’s not where you have to stay,” Hernandez said.

Looking back, Hernandez credits much of her success to being willing to say yes to new opportunities, even when she wasn’t entirely sure where they would lead. She hopes others see that growth in nursing isn’t always a straight line and that some of the most meaningful career moves can come from taking a chance on yourself.

At Galen College of Nursing, advancing your education can open doors to new opportunities in leadership, education, and professional growth. If you’ve already earned your BSN, Galen’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program offers two specialized pathways: Nursing & Healthcare Leadership and Nurse Educator. These programs are designed for nurses who want to lead teams, influence healthcare outcomes, mentor future nurses, or expand their impact beyond the bedside.