“IU School of Nursing Bloomington’s Honors Program instilled in me a passion for evidence-based research. After carefully conducting surveys and analyzing the data, I developed a newfound respect for the time and effort that goes into research and its importance to the healthcare field.”
Before she began her college career, Allyson Hunsinger was looking at pursuing a career in financial advising and investing. But that all changed one afternoon during her senior year in high school.
Allyson had been given the opportunity to shadow nurses in her local emergency room. During one of her shifts, she saw a car she recognized pull into the emergency bay. “That’s my mom!” she said. “Seeing the concerned look on my face, the nurses on duty all jumped into action.”
Allyson’s mom was suffering from complications from the outpatient surgery she had had earlier that day and was having trouble breathing because of a newly formed blood clot that was blocking the blood flowing to her lungs. “After they identified the issue,” says Allyson, “my mom was rushed into lifesaving surgery.”
“While I was supposed to be ‘one of them’ during my shift,” she continues, “the nurses provided my family and me with so much care and comfort during one of the scariest moments of my life that I knew – from that day forward – that I would pursue nursing to make sure that I would be there to comfort people during their scariest days, as well.”
Allyson graduated from IU School of Nursing Bloomington (IUSON BL) in May 2019 with her BSN, a minor in business from the Kelley School of Business, and a host of memories. “One of my fondest memories was attending IU basketball games with my friends. Waiting for HOURS outside Assembly Hall for the best general admission seats was ALWAYS worth it!” she says.
“And, while exams were never fun,” she continues, “I always looked forward to study sessions with my nursing bestie, Kaylee Hart. There is no one else I’d rather have sitting beside me at a table studying for hours at a time than Kaylee.”
Allyson first began exploring the idea of becoming one of our senior Honors Program students during her junior year’s statistics class.
“At the time,” she says, “I was sure that I never wanted to analyze data sets EVER again!” she laughs. “The following semester, we began conducting research for a quality improvement project. Once I realized how important the data was in supporting our claims for improvement, I couldn’t get enough.”
As a result—and with words of encouragement from Drs. Angela Opsahl and Amy Wonder—Allyson signed up to become a senior Honors Program student.
Allyson’s 2019 Honors Program team included seniors Nick Bell, Megan Eble, Bree Martlage, and Emily Cross. Under the guidance of faculty mentor Angela Opsahl, the group discovered that gaps in caregivers’ knowledge about the proper use of antibiotics were causing some healthcare providers to overprescribe their use, especially to young children. The group also produced several video PSAs to be shared in hospital waiting rooms and other healthcare settings.
“After an entire year of planning, conducting, and finalizing our research,” says Allyson, “I remember Dr. Opsahl bringing us into her office and encouraging us to consider submitting our project to Sigma Theta Tau (the international honor society of nurses). As seniors in our last semester, we’d all just received our invitations to join the IU Sigma chapter. I remember thinking, ‘Sure, why not?’ … not realizing that there was a real possibility that we might be chosen.”
Then, lightning struck. Angela was notified that Allyson and the rest of the team had been chosen to make an in-person podium presentation at the 2019 Sigma Theta Tau Conference in Calgary, Canada. “The five of us couldn’t believe what we were hearing,” Allyson says. “They wanted US to come to CANADA to present to nurse leaders from around the WORLD!”
“The trip to Calgary was something I’ll never forget. It was my first trip to Canada, and I’d never been to a conference before. There’s not much that compares to an energized group of individuals all eager to learn and share their research and passions. It was so invigorating to have people show up to our presentation, listen intently, and ask us questions. During our trip, we even had an extra day where we were able to rent a car and visit Canada’s breathtaking Banff National Park!
“IUSON BL’s Honors program instilled in me a passion for evidence-based research (EBP). After carefully conducting surveys and analyzing the data, I developed a newfound respect for the time and effort that goes into research and its importance to the healthcare field. To this day, I strive to keep up with the latest EBP articles pertaining to nursing,” she says.
"Enjoy the journey that is nursing school. Go into all clinicals with an open mind. Nursing has endless opportunities, and you never know when you’ll find the niche that you love the most."
After graduating from IU, Allyson was admitted into Vanderbilt University’s Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program, earning her MSN from this accelerated program in August 2020.
Since September 2020, Allyson has been a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC), specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She currently practices at Pace Health Connection (a Title X government-funded family planning clinic) in Bedford, IN, celebrating her two-year anniversary with Pace in October.
Looking back on her time at IUSON BL and her new nursing career, Allyson shares these words of advice with our students. “Enjoy the journey that is nursing school,” she says. “Go into all clinicals with an open mind. Nursing has endless opportunities, and you never know when you’ll find the niche that you love the most. You’re also making LIFELONG friends. I’ve gotten to see many of my classmates get married, and a few have children, in just a few short years!”
As for a career in nursing, Allyson says: “The biggest challenge I faced was the self-doubt I initially felt. I had passed all my certification exams, but I frequently asked myself: ‘Am I really ready for this? They’re going to let me take care of this patient ALONE?’”
"As a new RN/NP, I brought a lot to the table. I could help my team by sharing my passion for evidence-based practice. Always remember that you’re more ready than you think to start your journey!"
“After talking with my friends and colleagues, I’ve learned this is an incredibly normal feeling when taking that next step. It’s always intimidating starting a new position and finding your footing, but everyone who is experienced now was once new and felt the same way!
“I also learned that, as a new RN/NP, I had a lot to bring to the table. I had just graduated with the most up-to-date medical knowledge. I was also able to help my team by sharing my passion for evidence-based practice and making sure that everyone else was up to speed as well.
“Always remember that you’re more ready than you think you are to start your journey!”
“I Am an IU Nurse” is a regular feature of The Nursing News, in which we feature the accomplishments and personal stories of IUSON Bloomington’s student nurses and alumni.
IU School of Nursing
Bloomington
