Keiser University Associate of Science in Nursing graduate Amanda Hipley has been recognized for her role of caring for patients at Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Florida Healthcare.

Hipley, a Keiser’s West Palm Beach campus graduate, shared that she credits a healthcare professional she’d gotten to know as a teenager for the inspiration to join the profession after watching her support her mother. “One home health nurse, in particular, took extra time to spend with our family and with my mom. She made us laugh, taught us what we needed to know, and treated us like family. I knew that was the kind of nurse I wanted to be,” she recalled.

After first joining HCA’s JFK North location in West Palm Beach, Florida as a Relief Charge Nurse in 2016, she was subsequently promoted to Clinical Nurse Coordinator and most recently as the Medical, Surgical, and Orthopedic Director of Nursing. Her contributions were recognized recently when she was among those who were presented the organization’s Daisy Award, an acknowledgment to celebrate the extraordinary compassion nurses provide.

With a focus on lifelong growth and learning, Hipley said she plans to continue her educational journey and is thankful for the strong foundation she’s received so far, and even the challenges she’s overcome as she’s translated them into learning experiences.

“Before graduating I was a secretary, and I was very weary to start my career as a new nurse. However, I felt I was able to receive a high level of education from Keiser University provided by a group of outstanding professors, a well-formed curriculum, and a good set of core nursing values,” said Hipley while adding that the encouragement she received from others was invaluable. “My advice to others is to stay committed to what they love, to go the extra mile, and to put their heart into whatever path they take, and don’t give up when it gets tough. I would also recommend lifting others in the process. Along my journey having people tell me, ‘You should go for it,’ or telling me what they thought my potential could be was a huge motivation.”

HCA Florida JFK North Hospital’s CEO Ashley Vertuno shared that she is grateful for Hipley’s contributions and delighted with her professional advancement as she and other organizational leaders foster an atmosphere that encourages career growth and advancement. While describing educational affiliates as ‘workforce partners’ in which students transfer from the classroom into the clinical environment, she shared that Keiser University is a leading clinical rotation participant. “We are pleased with the affiliation and the continued partnership,” she said. “In August 2022 we had over 250 students who rotated through the facility and Keiser University was the leading clinical partner,” she added.

HCA Florida Healthcare is a leading collaborative healthcare network connecting approximately 11,000 physicians, 77,000 colleagues, 49 hospitals, more than 350 physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms, and more than 50 urgent care centers across the state.

Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Nursing prepares students to practice professional nursing. Professional nursing involves the performance of those acts requiring substantial specialized knowledge, judgment, and nursing skill based upon applied principles of biological, physical, psychological, and social sciences.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in providing Social Mobility in 2023.