Great nurses possess excellent critical‑thinking skills, attention to detail, and strong clinical knowledge. But one of the most important attributes of a nurse is their heart.

This is exactly what Marian Cole brings to her role as a registered nurse at Johnston‑Willis Hospital, an HCA Virginia facility.

Few nursing students at Galen College of Nursing’s Richmond campus embodied empathy and compassion from day one as clearly as Cole. She shaped her time on campus through human connection, trust, and inclusivity—whether with faculty, staff, or fellow students. She consistently looked out for others, even to her own detriment, and if you met her, it felt like you had gained a new best friend.

Those qualities led to Cole being named the recipient of the Dr. Marjorie Perrin Human Touch Award at Galen’s commencement ceremony in October 2025, as selected by her peers—recognition of both the nurse she became and the person she was throughout her journey.

Unlike many Galen students, Cole’s path to nursing was not a straight line. She worked in mortgage and financial services before transitioning into healthcare as a physical therapist assistant—experiences that helped shape the nurse she would become.

When Cole first explored Galen, she wasn’t just looking for a program. She was looking for a place that felt right. During her admissions visit, she met Shelby Moore, now the Galen Richmond Director of Campus Operations, who at the time worked in enrollment.

“When I walked onto Galen’s campus, I felt immediately calm,” Cole said. “I met with Shelby and I asked her, ‘Do you believe in Galen?’ And she said, ‘absolutely.’ I said, ‘let’s do it.’ It just felt like home.”

Once Cole arrived at Galen, she quickly began forming lifelong connections. One of those began at a Galen Richmond Open House, well before classes started.

Katie Kent, RN, and her family were new to the area when Cole approached them and struck up a conversation. It was an interaction Kent never forgot.

“I just remember the feeling she left me with, and it was just warm and fuzzy,” Kent said.

That feeling was familiar to many students.

“There’s no such thing as a stranger to her,” Kent added. “She always made everyone feel so included.”

Among her cohort—and often beyond it—Cole naturally stepped into a role many described as “the mother of the group.” In part, this came from entering nursing school later in life, but more so from her instinct to support others.

“She always provided some wisdom, and she was very good at paraphrasing concepts in class if someone was struggling to understand it,” Kent said.

Cole’s support extended beyond the classroom. She advocated for classmates, connected peers with resources, shared textbooks, and volunteered time to tutor and mentor. More than once, faculty gently reminded her to focus on herself, even as she continued supporting others.

“I feel like I’m naturally a caregiver,” she said. “I want people to feel included… I don’t ever want anyone to feel like someone doesn’t care about them.”

Nursing school is demanding by design, and even the strongest students feel its pressure. Yet Cole remained unapologetically herself—something noticed by both peers and faculty.

Beverley Pack, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, who teaches Foundations of Nursing at the start of the program and Leadership and Nursing Management at the end, witnessed Cole’s growth firsthand.

“In the very beginning, she started out very inquisitive, not as confident,” Pack said. “But through the program, I saw her grow in her confidence, her clinical competence, and really professionalism as a nurse.”

By the time Cole was back in Pack’s class near graduation, her growth as a nurse was evident.

“She was consistently genuine in caring and demonstrated professionalism every day,” Pack said. “This was her goal, her dream, and she embraced it 100%.”

For those who knew her, nominating Cole for the Human Touch Award was an easy decision. The award honors students who exemplify compassion, empathy, and genuine human kindness—qualities recognized by peers and faculty alike.

During her time at Galen, Cole embodied the iCARE Compassionately values: Inclusivity, Character, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Today, as an RN at Johnston‑Willis Hospital, she brings those same values into every patient interaction.

“These are the things that are required to be a nurse, but also just to be a good human being,” Cole said. “If everyone kind of led with that mindset, our world would be such a good place.”

In Marian Cole, Galen didn’t just graduate a registered nurse. It helped shape the kind of nurse—and human being—patients, peers, and communities remember.

Marian Cole’s journey reflects what Galen College of Nursing strives to develop in every student: nurses who combine compassion with competence, confidence with care, and technical skill with human connection. Cole’s journey also shows that it’s never too late to realize your dream and become a nurse.

Through Galen’s pre‑licensure nursing programs—including the Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse (PN/VN), Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)—students are supported not only in building clinical knowledge, but in developing the character and confidence needed to care for people at their most vulnerable moments.

If you’re considering becoming a nurse, get started today at Galen!