The Story Behind the Schooling Nursing, Journalism, and a Student’s Voice

Hosts Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN and Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL welcome Danae Petit, a rising senior nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh and senior columnist at The Pitt News, for a powerful conversation about nursing school, identity, and the power of telling your own story. Danae shares the rude awakening of her freshman year, the moment a small interaction at a campus food spot inspired her most-read column on what it means to be a Black nurse, and how falling in love with a labor and delivery clinical rotation helped her find her niche. Along the way, Marion and Rebecca dig into why nursing needs more storytellers, why representation in the profession matters, and why writing about real nursing experiences can shape the future of healthcare. Whether you're a nursing student, a nurse leader, or someone who has ever wondered whether your voice in this profession matters, Danae's story is a reminder that small moments and honest writing can ripple outward in ways you don't expect. Jump Ahead: 00:59 — Welcome and introducing Danae Petit 01:47 — Why Danae chose nursing instead of medical school 03:02 — Discovering writing as a creative outlet at The Pitt News 04:48 — The "rude awakening" of freshman year 05:32 — The shift from high school to college-level studying 06:52 — Is nursing school harder, or is it the transition? 08:26 — How readers responded to her first nursing column 09:43 — The comfort of knowing you're not alone 10:20 — Writing about what it means to be a Black nurse 11:00 — The small moment at the food spot that became a column 13:24 — Why diverse voices in nursing matter 14:46 — "Whether I realize it or not, there are always people watching" 17:13 — Representation in nursing: 11% of undergrad students are Black 18:28 — Finding her niche in labor and delivery 18:45 — Her first C-section and falling in love with L&D 20:49 — A favorite professor and the joy of L&D 21:31 — What senior year looks like 22:18 — Will the writing continue after graduation? 23:49 — Marion and Rebecca on why nursing needs more storytellers 25:53 — Closing thanks 🎙️ About The Love & Leary Podcast Thank you for tuning in to The Love n' Leary Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a colleague. 🌐 Connect With Us Official Website: Visit nurse.org/lovenleary for episodes, articles, and exclusive nursing resources. Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Love n' Leary Podcast YouTube to watch full video episodes and highlights. 👥 Follow the Hosts on LinkedIn Stay connected, network, and join the conversation with us professionally: Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Love on LinkedIn Connect with Marion: Marion Leary on LinkedIn About Nurse.org: Empowering, entertaining, and uniting nurses worldwide. Explore more career guides, news, and community stories at Nurse.org.