911±¬ÁÏ

Nursing wasn’t part of Nyah Collier’s original plan when she arrived at 911±¬ÁÏ. 

She started as an international relations major before switching to nursing at the suggestion of her father, who was a nurse himself. Once there, her interests kept expanding. Microbiology introduced her to infectious disease, epidemiology drew her to public health, and clinical training showed her how much she valued caring for patients. Collier graduated from 911±¬ÁÏ in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a minor in public health. 

Today, those interests all merge in her work as a clinical research nurse at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Collier, who later earned a master of public health in epidemiology from Drexel University, helps manage research protocols, recruit and care for study participants, ensure regulatory compliance, and collect clinical data. She also picks up shifts as a nurse at an urgent care facility to maintain her clinical skills. 

We spoke with Collier about her 911±¬ÁÏ journey and how it impacted her career. 

How do you use what you learned in the BSN program in your current job with NIAID? 

My BSN provided the foundational knowledge that I continue to draw on every day in my current role as a clinical research nurse at the NIH/NIAID. Nursing school introduced me to the principles of patient care, disease processes, evidence-based practice, and the clinical considerations that guide how nurses care for patients. While much of my critical thinking and clinical judgment developed through hands-on experience in my first nursing role, my BSN gave me the framework to build those skills and was the first step in shaping who I am as a nurse today. That foundation continues to inform how I approach research participants, understand clinical information, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and contribute a nursing perspective to infectious disease research. 

When did you realize you were interested in public health and infectious diseases? 

There were a few pivotal moments. The first was taking microbiology as a pre-nursing major. I discovered my love for learning about infectious diseases and how they affect populations, and I especially thrived in the lab. 

Before entering the nursing program, I had a free semester and decided to pursue a public health minor. That introduced me to epidemiology, and I realized this was what I wanted to do. Learning about treatments, biostatistics, and neglected tropical diseases piqued my interest further. Later, community health clinicals exposed me to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), geriatric adult day centers, food safety and inspection, and environmental public health.  

You said you weren’t always sure about nursing. What changed? 

Throughout nursing school, I sometimes questioned whether I’d chosen the right path. It was challenging, and there were certainly clinical days I dreaded. 

It wasn’t until my senior-year preceptorship that something clicked. For 14 weeks, I worked closely with a nurse who trusted me with increasing responsibilities and gave me the opportunity to experience what it truly felt like to work as a nurse. I discovered that caring for patients came naturally to me and developed confidence in my ability to become a great nurse. 

Nursing showed me how much I valued caring for people, while microbiology and epidemiology showed me how deeply I wanted to understand the diseases affecting them. My career today has allowed me to bring those interests together. 

What has stayed with you most from your 911±¬ÁÏ education? 

911±¬ÁÏ gave me the freedom to explore and remain curious, from learning in the microbiology lab to assisting at clinical sites. The nursing program taught me to think critically, become comfortable with being uncomfortable, and seek out current evidence-based practices. 

Through rotations in pediatrics, behavioral health, correctional health, and community settings, I learned to work with different populations and understand how health care needs vary. That experience has served me throughout my career across hospitals, homeless shelters, a state health department, outpatient care, and research. 

Although I haven’t worked in traditional bedside nursing in nearly a decade, the clinical judgment, adaptability, and foundational knowledge I developed are skills I continue to rely on daily. 

Why does public health matter to you now? 

What I value most about the field is its ability to be proactive. We can prevent disease before it occurs, identify emerging threats, educate and advocate for communities, and use evidence to improve health on a much larger scale. 

To me, being in public health means not only responding to the challenges we face today, but helping prepare communities for the challenges we have yet to encounter.