Recently acclaimed for her compassion as a nurse, Keiser University Port St. Lucie Campus alumna Barbara Tindale shared the pivotal hometown moment that reinforced how she was destined for her vocation.

“The irony of working in the field of healthcare did not occur until I visited Rochester in May 2024 when I found a picture of my mom, dad, and me in the lobby of a Cleveland hospital in which I was receiving treatment exactly 10 years before my start date as a nurse at a similar Florida facility. I forgot about that picture. I do not forget the excellent care I received in the Transplant Unit and Surgical Intensive Care Unit,” reflected Tindale who was treated for an ongoing gastrointestinal and congenital condition requiring several surgeries and hospitalizations throughout her childhood, teenage, and young adult years and resulting in specialized care. “When I was sent there to receive care. I was still a mathematics major focusing on secondary education. I never envisioned that I would be caring for patients as a nurse ten years later,” she said.

Now serving as a Medical-Surgical/Telemetry registered nurse and working toward her master’s degree, Tindale earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Keiser University’s Port St. Lucie campus in 2022. As an undergraduate student working full time, she regularly applied her medical knowledge, understanding of math, and compassion toward tutoring fellow Keiser University learners, particularly with the calculations required to administer proper dosages.

“Many times, students would state, ‘We will never use this. Why do we have to do this to this extent?’ In school, there were dosage calculation tests where you needed to score 92% or higher to move on in the class. Even with an advanced education in mathematics, these tests were challenging. I had one professor, Dr. Connie Grim, who was particularly passionate about dosage. And one night, all the studying at Keiser made sense. I had to do a calculation of an IV drip by body weight and titrate every 25 minutes while assessing the patient. Titration means continuously measuring and adjusting the dosage of medication by balancing the pharmacological properties of the medicines with the physiological response the patient is having. It is an understatement to say that I was so thankful for those rigorous tests, practice, and dedication to perfection from my professor at Keiser,” she said. “Knowing the science of nursing is vital to providing safe and quality patient care. Once you know that, you can add the art of nursing. Kneeling beside a patient’s bed, holding their hand, letting them express fear, and comforting them and their families is beyond gratifying. If, at the end of the day, you care about the people you are treating, you know you have chosen the right profession,” said Tindale.

Tindale’s dedication was recently recognized as she was awarded the coveted nursing Daisy Award thanks to the recommendation of the daughter of a 79-year-old patient with Alzheimer’s who shared how Tindale assisted her mother when she was confused, in despair, and disoriented.

‘This happened a few times during the night. Barbara came in, and her demeanor was so warm, and her heart went out to her. She bent down by the bed, so she was at eye level, and calmed my mother with her smile and loving manner. She took the time and energy to do that for my mom! That is not in her job description. My mom actually remembered her the next evening,’ she stated.

The road leading to her professional calling began in her hometown of Brighton, New York. There, Tindale faced health and life challenges with perseverance, and her love for order and numbers supported the possibility of one day becoming a mathematics teacher. Precision, detail, and exactitude were practiced regularly in her household, as her mother was CFO, and her dad and sister were golf professionals for a family-owned business. Unsurprisingly, she enrolled in New York’s Nazareth and Westchester Colleges to pursue a degree in mathematics and secondary education with a minor in Spanish.

But all of that changed after the passing of her father in August 2017. It was then that she decided to alter course and relocate to Port St. Lucie, Florida, to pursue a nursing degree despite her health challenges. “I did not know if it was physically possible, but I had to try. I knew I would have to defy medical odds and was determined to do so. With the amazing support of my mom, I changed my major to nursing and moved to Port St. Lucie,” said Tindale who reflected on the devastation caused by her dad’s sudden passing and how the experience caused her to contemplate her gifts and how she could best use them. “I knew I needed to beat the odds and never give up, just as he taught me. My dad always told me I could do anything I set my mind to, and I could not think of a career that would fulfill me like nursing does. Taking care of people is an honor. I take that honor very seriously and know caring for people in their most challenging times is a privilege. If I can provide safe and quality care compassionately, I have done my best for them. The biggest compliment is kneeling next to a patient’s bed, holding their hand, and allowing them to be scared and understanding their fears,” she said. Connecting with patients is the most wonderful part of my job.

The decision to pursue the degree was a life-changing moment, as she now applies lessons gained from her own experiences toward helping others through the dark times.

“When a patient mentions that scar on my neck, I tell them of a quote someone once told me. ‘Scars tell the stories of our lives… all that hurt us and all that saved us.’ The scar is from a coma – I was on a ventilator. I forget it is there most of the time. Once quite ill and in several comas, I never imagined the life I have now. Being sick is difficult. The nurses who cared for me and my family during and after my own experience with critical illness inspired me,” she said.

Tindale’s decision to rigorously embrace the challenge paid off. After completing Keiser University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, she shared that her participation in the symbolic Pinning Ceremony is an occasion she will never forget.

“I can honestly say this was one of the best days of my life. I remember standing there thinking how surreal it was. I have never been able to attend any other graduations, so this one was particularly special… Many thought I would not be well enough or possibly survive an illness that had kept me from achieving my dreams, and that day proved to myself and my family (including my dad) that sometimes what seemed impossible was possible. Life is always worth fighting for, and a life worth living where one can prosper and be happy is never to be given up. Earlier that year, on a visit to Rochester, my cousin and his wife gave me a handmade sign with the word “Perseverance” on it. At pinning, I surprisingly received the “Perseverance Award” presented by Keiser University Nursing Faculty. Keiser gave me so much more than a degree. It gave me hope and faith that the most challenging times can lead to great things if we allow ourselves to dream big and have faith that miracles can happen,” she reflected. “The scar on my neck represents some hard times but also times I have healed from and become stronger. More importantly, those times help me understand my patients. I use my personal experience to comfort and calm my patients. I would not change a thing because my past makes me a better nurse,” she said.

Tindale went on to complete the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam, passing on the first try.

“I was told, “Nursing school prepares you for your NCLEX; being on the unit prepares you for nursing.” This is partially true for me. Keiser did prepare me for my NCLEX. In typical Barbara fashion, I set out to take that test one time and pass it. After pinning, I set myself a rigorous schedule of review and practice questions. I made the date for two months after pinning. I even went with my mom to a location away from Port Saint Lucie for two weeks, where I studied constantly. Luckily, I made the best friends at Keiser to cherish forever. They came to my hiding spot and studied with me. These three people visited my house every Sunday for about 12 hours during nursing school. We made that our ‘study and review day.’ My decision to study for two months (only breaking for lunch) was necessary to address my self-doubt. However, it was not required as I learned everything I needed to know at Keiser. I was one of the last in my class to take the test. Keiser has an excellent pass rate. The exams I took at Keiser taught me critical thinking and how to test. During my first semester, I was in awe of my professor, who provided hands-on care to the patients she gave us at clinical. I saw how knowledge and compassion are the true meaning of what is known as the ‘art and science of nursing.’ Today, I work alongside that professor. It is such an honor. She was a great mentor in nursing school and continues to be an amazing support and mentor now that I am a nurse and a graduate student. My gratitude is hard to put into words,” she said.

Now working toward her Master of Science in Nursing degree, Tindale shares that she is constantly reevaluating her thought processes and thinking about how she and others in the profession can better serve patients.

“I am interested in patient safety, quality improvement, and infection control. I am also interested in making the transition from nursing school to the profession easier for new graduates. The fantastic thing about nursing is that the possibilities are endless,” she said while reminding students that serving the profession is a privilege. “It is difficult at times, but the moments when a patient expresses gratitude are unbelievably rewarding. Knowing that you have the honor of caring for other human beings in their time of need is the most fulfilling feeling in the world,” she smiled.

Keiser University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program enables students to provide evidence-based collaborative care to diverse patient populations in varied settings. The Programmatic Student Learning Outcomes are a culmination of measurable competencies, consistent with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2008) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008), which enables graduates to practice within a complex healthcare system.

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