Alumna Nicole Brienza Featured in New York Times Article

‘You realize that you are making a difference in people’s lives with this vaccine.’

The March 26, 2021 issue of the New York Times contained a piece titled “How a Javits Center Vaccine Nurse Spends her Sundays,” featuring Sacred Heart University alumna Nicole Brienza ’20. The article details what it is like working at a vaccine clinic.

“It was so difficult finding a job as a new graduate during COVID,” said Brienza, who graduated from the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing (DHCON) last year. Many places where she applied wanted experienced nurses, she said, so when she had an opportunity to administer vaccine shots, “I thought, ‘This is great. I’m going to be helping people get the vaccine.’” She began working in Jones Beach in Long Island, NY, and moved to the Javits Center in New York City, where she worked 12-hour shifts, three to five days per week. Depending on the day, 56 nurses could see up to 10,000 patients, she said.

“One of my co-workers approached me about doing the New York Times piece. They wanted to focus on someone from New York, and I work on Sundays, and it was for a Sunday special,” Brienza said. When she expressed her interest, she was connected with reporter Alix Strauss, and a photographer came to her workplace.

“Working at the vaccine clinic is different than working in a hospital,” Brienza said. “In the clinic, the days are very similar; only the patients are different. You develop a routine.

“Some patients even broke down in tears, telling me how they’ll now be able to see their grandchildren,” she continued. “You realize that you are really making a difference in their lives.” Hearing people’s stories and seeing the hope the vaccine gives them helped energize Brienza on her long shifts.

During her time at Sacred Heart, Brienza found she could count on the helpfulness of the DHCON faculty and staff, and even her classmates. “Nursing studies were very challenging, but they would push me to succeed,” she said. “They taught me how to interact with people through my clinicals. I feel like that made me who I am today. It made me more confident in myself and more comfortable talking to people.”

“Nicole is a wonderful example of how our nursing students are prepared to respond to the health care needs of individuals and society,” said Mary Alice Donius, DHCON dean. “We love hearing about how our alumni are making a difference with true caring and compassion.”

Brienza, who aspires to be a pediatric nurse practitioner, recently began a new job in the pediatric intensive care unit at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York. “Working in pediatrics is my dream job, but I applied to everything. When the children’s hospital called, I jumped at the opportunity. Pediatrics was my favorite clinical in school. I’m thrilled—I want to be that person who brings just a bit of light into a difficult time for these patients.”