to know her by name. As the first person in her family to go to college, she wanted a university where she could thrive academically and personally. The University of Indianapolis School of Nursing checked all the boxes. “The UIndy nursing program is really competitive and well- respected,” explained Mitchell. “The smaller class sizes also stood out to me because I knew I’d need that close connection with my professors. Nursing is a tough major, and having that support and being able to get help whenever I need it was really important to me.” Mitchell’s education at UIndy has been shaped by three pivotal experiences preparing her for the real world of nursing: a critical care course, the state-of-the-art Simulation Lab (Sim Lab), and a clinical rotation at Riley, walking the same halls where her journey began. In the critical care course, Mitchell was trained to handle high-stakes situations where lives are on the line. The course covered topics like artificial ventilation, heart attacks, and traumatic brain injuries, all designed to prepare students for high-pressure scenarios. It was intense, but it only reaffirmed her passion. “My ultimate goal is to be a lifeline nurse or a flight nurse, so understanding critical care is essential for that role,” said Mitchell. “The course also helped me understand the terminology I hear all the time from the nurses I work with as a patient tech in the pediatric ICU at Riley.” Mitchell gained hands-on experience in UIndy’s Sim Lab. The Sim Lab includes examination rooms that replicate real hospital settings, complete with computer-controlled mannequins
Kolton and Kierra Mitchell
nurses had done for her family, Mitchell focused on the resilience of the young patients and how her care could make a lasting impact on their recovery. Mitchell’s graduation in December will be a milestone not just for her but for her entire family. As a first-generation college student, she has faced both academic and personal challenges
that simulate vital signs and human reactions. Here, Mitchell practiced pediatric and obstetric procedures, refining her skills in a controlled environment where no one’s life was on the line. “The program does a great job of preparing us for the real world,” explained Mitchell. “They make the simulations as realistic as possible, and practicing those situations on the computerized mannequins really prepares you for when you’re in a real-life setting.” Mitchell applied her training during
that have pushed her to grow. The road hasn’t always been easy, but Mitchell’s determination and commitment to excellence, along with the support from her UIndy community, have helped her transform challenges into stepping stones on the path to achieving her dream. “Graduation is going to be a huge moment for my family,” Mitchell said. “I’m so close now; I’m proud of myself for pushing through.” The best part of all is that when she walks across the graduation stage, her brother will be there to witness it. He’s fully recovered from aplastic anemia and HLH, thanks to a life-saving bone marrow transplant. But as she sits in her cap and gown, her thoughts will still go back
“The program does a great job of preparing us for the real world. They make the simulations as realistic as possible, and practicing those situations on the computerized mannequins really prepares you for when you’re in a real-life setting.”
—Kierra Mitchell ’25 (Nursing)
her clinical experience on Riley’s Pediatric Neurology and Transplant floor. There, she worked with children recovering from major surgeries, which brought back memories of her brother’s own journey in that same hospital. But just as the
to that day as a 12-year-old and the nurses who made such an impact on her family. With her heart set on a career in pediatric nursing, she’s ready to be a lifeline for others, just as the nurses were for her family all those years ago.
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MAGAZINE // SPRING 2025
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