Resilience, compassion, and a commitment to patient advocacy. These attributes are just some of what defines Galen College of Nursing student and graduate Darren Benari.
Working as a professional nurse was something that just a few years ago didn’t seen close to happening.
The South Florida native did not take a traditional path to nursing after high school. While his wife went to nursing school after high school, Benari’s journey took him in another direction.
“I wound up buying a UPS store and running it for 20 years,” Benari said.
From 2002 to 2022, Benari managed operations at a UPS retail location in Cooper City, Florida, all while his wife Jessica worked her way up as a nurse. When Jessica was ready to advance her career and pursue her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), going to Galen’s Miami, Florida campus was an easy and convenient choice. As an HCA Healthcare employee, she qualified for education assistance to help pay for her Online RN-to-BSN degree.
Jessica graduated with her BSN from Galen in 2022, and her experience inspired Darren to follow his true calling and go into nursing school.
“About 3 years ago, I got tired of being a franchise owner,” Benari said about pursuing his Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). “I wanted to pursue my dreams of becoming a nurse, so I sold my store and got into Galen.”
One of the many advantages to a nursing education at Galen College of the Nursing are the numerous opportunities to gain real-world experience.
Between on-site clinicals and a nurse extern program with HCA Florida’s East Division, Benari was able to gain hands-on experience in multiple nursing specialties and hospital units. Galen students learn by working alongside nurses in hospital emergency rooms, in mental health wards, and even in operating rooms.
“I chose Galen because even though there’s many options out there Galen is truly the best choice,” Benari said. “They prepare you to be a successful nurse by involving you in real-life scenarios with clinicals at the hospitals. The real-life simulators that they have here at Galen as well the education a Galen are unique because they don’t teach you what to think, but rather, how to think, and that’s the important thing.”
In addition to his part-time job as a nurse extern at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital – a 40-minute drive for him each way from his home in Coral Springs, Florida, he also participated in campus events as often as he could.
The husband and father of two boys found time to participate in student government, assist with new student orientations, and helped celebrate Galen’s graduating cohorts each quarter. He even volunteered at a graduation event after working a night shift in his extern program.
“Darren was fully invested in his education,” said Miami Dean Dr. Consuelo Nelson, PhD, MSN/Ed, BN, RN. “His guiding phrase, often shared with classmates, was: “short-term sacrifices for long-term goals.” He consistently demonstrated accountability, which is such an important quality in nursing. His positivity and contagious energy inspired both students and faculty, creating a supportive learning environment around him.”
Added Benari, “I went to every event because I feel like it’s important to give back to a school that gave you to the opportunity to be where you are today. Every faculty member invests in their students. They give their time to you, and your job is to be a sponge and absorb all their knowledge and experience.”
One aspect of Galen’s academic curriculum and culture that sets us apart from other schools is our intentionality about compassionate care.
While other schools may recommend their nurses be compassionate, Galen lives it on a daily basis, from the classroom to the clinical setting. It was here that Benari received a personal lesson he would never forget, and one that helped forge his identity as a nurse to all his patients.
While checking a patient’s vital signs, Benari made an assumption based on the patient’s visual appearance and verbal requests for medicine that was biased and incorrect. He was quickly corrected by the nurse he was shadowing and in his embarrassment, gained an important life lesson he still carries with him today.
“From that point on, I made a vow that I would go into every patient’s room, leave my bias at the door, and assess the patient based on their needs and their issues,” Benari said. “Pain is subjective and I learned very quickly to be compassionate for patients.”
Benari, like many other nurses, experienced firsthand the impact of compassionate care—or the lack thereof. During his time at Galen, his mother became seriously ill. The staff at a local facility did not consistently provide her with the compassionate care she needed, and she came close to losing her life. She was then transferred to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery and was given antibiotics. She made a full recovery, and the experience solidified Benari’s commitment to patient-centered care.
“That’s when I doubled-down on how much I love HCA, because they saved my mom’s life,” Benari said.
Between his experiences during clinicals in mental health units as well as examples of mental illness in his family, Benari is motivated
Now that he’s a Galen graduate and a professional nurse working in the intensive care unit at HCA Florida Northwest Hospital, Benari has his future already planned out for him.
Between his experiences during clinicals witnessing a mental health unit, as well as mental health concerns in his family, Benari said that his goal is to make a difference in this field of care.
“We’re trying to get rid of the stigma of mental health,” Benari said. “Nobody chooses to be psychologically sick. You just have to work in their reality. It’s okay that you’re not feeling that way but we’re going to do something to make it better.”
He hopes to become a nurse practitioner one day, and focus on improving people’s mental health. He’s already started working on his Online RN-to-BSN from Galen, and he hopes to complete his Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with his wife in a few years.
“From the very beginning, Darren has been unwavering in his determination,” Galen Miami Associate Program Director Michelle Davis, APRN, AGPCNP said. “I have no doubt that he will achieve his goal of becoming a nurse practitioner and will thrive in the mental health field. Beyond that, I can easily see him stepping into leadership roles within nursing organizations. His strong work ethic, compassionate nature, sense of humor, and outstanding personality will allow him not only to succeed but also to inspire and encourage others along the way.”
Are you thinking about following your dreams to become a nurse? Galen College of Nursing offers numerous degree paths with multiple start times during the year for new nurses. Consider our PN/VN diploma program, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, and 3-year Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) program.
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