The Yale School of Nursing (YSN) Class of 2024 holds the distinction of earning diplomas during the school’s centennial year. As graduating students prepare for the conferral of degrees on May 20, YSN is checking in with just a few of the extraordinary students adding hoods to their regalia this year.
Cheryl Canty ’24 MSN
Hometown: Portsmouth, Virginia
Specialty: Family Nurse Practitioner
What drew you to the diabetes concentration? YSN is one of a handful of schools of nursing in the US with a program like this.
There are millions of people who live with diabetes and its sequalae. I was personally affected by this as a child when my grandmother lost her sight. Even though I was young at the time, I knew I wanted to do something to help people living with diabetes. As an adult I decided that becoming a nurse practitioner would be that “thing.”
The diabetes concentration was one of the deciding factors when choosing to pursue my MSN at Yale. I wanted to seize every opportunity to gain experience with the complex social, emotional, and economic burdens this disease places on families within my community.
During your years at YSN you served as president of the Student Government Organization (SGO), co-chair of the Yale Black Nurses Council, and participated in the Graduate & Professional Student Senate (GPSS). Could you share a project that resonated with you?
One of our responsibilities in GPSS was creating a student survey to assess the needs of the students at the nursing school and present it to the dean. Some of the concerns were about study spaces, more opportunities to socialize with peers, career guidance after passing the NCLEX, student features in emails as well as financial assistance.
Honestly, these issues were not fixed overnight and some of the solutions are still in process for myriad reasons. However, since presenting that survey to the dean of the school and the dean of student life there have been so many positive changes. We now have a quiet study space in addition to the campus library, we have a relaxing lounge area to decompress and connect with peers, the Office of Student Life and SGO have hosted several events to foster community, there are student features in emails, and Yale has instituted a scholarship toward the cost of the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing (GEPN) program.
These things weren’t solely because of that survey, but I believe it had an impact. This is near and dear to my heart because we were able to share the voices of the students with leadership and they listened. It showed me how important student voices are to leadership at YSN.
How did bringing your parenthood into the classroom add greater texture to your YSN experience?
I always say nothing prepares you for parenthood, but it prepares you for everything.
Being a parent has helped me appreciate and respect the different perspectives of others. This has helped me in the classroom when discussing sensitive topics such as the effects of healthcare disparities on traditionally marginalized communities. During these conversations at YSN I have been able to view these complex topics through the lenses of those around me with different life experiences. I have honed this skill from the many opportunities I have experienced as a mom listening to the differing opinions of my children. They have helped me to admire the intricacies of individuality and the ways it contributes to collective conversations.
What are your post-commencement plans?
I plan to spend as much time as possible with my family before starting my new career as a nurse practitioner.
More Commencement Coverage
To read more student profiles and advice from six decades of YSN alumni to the Class of 2024, please visit the Commencement 2024 sidebar on the left (mobile devices, scroll down).
For more information on Yale’s commencement festivities, please visit commencement.yale.edu.