Following in the footsteps of family members who have served in healthcare professions, Treasure Coast sisters Alyssa and Asia Dwyer are embarking on their own journey to become nurses at Keiser University’s Port St. Lucie Campus.

After earning their associate of arts degrees from Indian River State College utilizing Treasure Coast High School’s Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program, the two look forward to delving into the nursing curriculum and further learning about the variety of fields available to serve patients.\

Drawn to Keiser University because of its small class sizes, one-on-one attention, and recommendations from friends, the two are used to backing each other academically. “My sister and I have always supported each other,” smiled Alyssa. “We would often test each other to ensure that we both had a solid grasp of a topic, whether we were in the classroom or not,” she said.

“We wish Alyssa and Asia the best of luck as they begin their path to becoming registered nurses. In speaking with our nursing majors, we often find that they were inspired to join the profession because of the positive experiences of a family member or loved one. In following in the footsteps of their family, Alyssa and Asia will eventually begin a challenging and rewarding career helping their community. As Florida faces a dire nursing shortage, we need dedicated, compassionate caregivers and Keiser University is working diligently to meet the workforce demands of Florida’s health care system,” said Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser.

While sharing that family members are proud and inspired by them, the duo encouraged others who may be road-mapping the course to a successful future. “If you want to make your dreams a reality, it’s important to take action and maintain consistent effort. Even if you encounter challenges along the way, don’t give up. Keep pushing forward and you’ll eventually reach your goals,” said Alyssa. Asia agrees. Focus on setting a goal and a definable plan to be able to achieve what you want, and then take the steps toward achieving the dream. You can’t get anywhere without trying,” she said.

The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) is an international pre-university preparation program that is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group, a not-for-profit organization, and a department of the University of Cambridge in England. It provides learners the opportunity to earn an international diploma by successfully completing an advanced academic curriculum and prepares them to receive acceptance into universities after having earned up to 30 hours of college credit. It also provides the skills required to be successful once matriculating.

Keiser University’s FastTrack Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is offered for students beginning their first professional nursing program, in a format that allows students to complete the program of study in four semesters (after general education credits and prerequisites are evaluated and/or completed).

Graduates will be prepared to provide compassionate, patient-centered, culturally competent nursing care to individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in a variety of settings, using evidence-based knowledge and skills related to wellness, health promotion, illness, disease management, and end-of-life care to improve healthcare outcomes. They will practice in partnership with patients as members and leaders of interprofessional healthcare teams, utilizing the most current healthcare technologies. Successful completion of this program qualifies graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.

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 by U.S. News and World Report in 2023.