In a fast-paced hospital setting where every second matters, Delia Schwartz ‘26 has found her place. For the nursing student from Rock Island, Illinois, the work isn’t just about charts or clinical skills. It starts with people.
“I really enjoy talking to people and getting to know them,” Schwartz said. “I have to get your entire story very quickly and get to know you over a shift. I really like that challenge.”
That ability to connect with people, even in a short amount of time, is what drew her to nursing in the first place, and it’s a skill she’ll take with her as she begins her career in emergency medicine at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center. While she can’t point to one exact moment she felt called to the field, it’s something that’s been building for years.
“I just feel like it’s been something I’ve pursued for a long time,” she said.
Transferring to St. Ambrose
After starting at Kirkwood Community College, Schwartz transferred to St. Ambrose University in the fall of 2024, looking for a program that felt like the right next step.
“St. Ambrose’s nursing program is very attractive. Everyone compliments nurses from Ambrose,” she said. “And it has a great NCLEX pass rate, which is really important when you’re trying to pick a nursing school.”
At St. Ambrose, Schwartz found a program that offered strong outcomes and real experience. And once she got here, the transition felt smoother than she expected.
“The staff in the nursing department were incredibly helpful,” she said. “Deb Frankie-Lasher, recruiter for the nursing department, made sure I had everything I needed so that I could just move seamlessly into the program.”
That support continued once she arrived on campus.
“Our program administrative coordinator, Kara Baker, she just does a really good job of making everything very clear: this is what you need to turn in, this is what you need to have done before you can start class clinicals.”
Beyond program faculty and staff, Schwartz quickly built a camaraderie with her 25-person cohort. Seeing the same faces every day and working through challenges together fostered a close-knit community.
“Being in the same class every day, going through the same things – it feels like a team effort,” she said.
That sense of teamwork carries over into the department as a whole. Faculty know their students, check in often, and make it clear they want them to succeed.
“It’s like a little family over there,” she said.
Focused on patient-centered care
In clinicals, Schwartz has been able to take what she’s learned in the classroom and apply it in real situations, often in environments where she has only a short time to connect with each patient. In those moments, she’s not just focused on tasks, but on building trust and making patients feel comfortable.
For her, the most meaningful feedback doesn’t come from exams or evaluations, but from the people she cares for.
“When a patient says you’re going to make a great nurse, that’s one of the best compliments you can receive,” she said.
Those small moments stick with her, especially on the harder days.
“It supports your ‘why.’ Why you do what you do,” she said.
One of her most impactful experiences was caring for a patient who passed away – a moment that required both professionalism and compassion.
“We cleaned the patient up and made her look comfortable,” she said. “It was really beautiful to witness everyone respect the patient and her dignity.”
This moment encompasses St. Ambrose’s person-centered approach to healthcare, something Schwartz says sets the program apart.
“I’ve really enhanced my therapeutic communication skills,” she reflected. “We have entire classes almost dedicated to learning how to be considerate towards our patients. We get time to really focus on being patient-centered and providing patient-centered care.”
Global Brigades
That perspective grew even more through her involvement with Global Brigades, an international non-profit that implements a holistic model to meet a community’s health and economic goals. Schwartz served as co-president of St. Ambrose’s chapter. Through the organization, she had the opportunity to serve both locally and internationally.
“The club really attracted me because it’s all about social determinants of health, and how we can impact public health,” Schwartz said. “We supply people with knowledge to be sustainable for the long term.”
During a spring break trip to rural Panama, she worked alongside a team providing dental and medical care, as well as teaching hand and oral hygiene. In three days of clinic, they treated over 300 patients.
“It was really rewarding,” Schwartz said. “We had students who were in business, education, and social work, and everyone took something away from the trip that will help them in their future careers.”
For Schwartz, the experience changed how she thinks about health care, pushing her to look beyond immediate symptoms and consider the bigger picture.
“When speaking with a patient, there are so many questions to ask. You always need to be assessing and digging deeper,” she said.
A future in emergency care
As graduation approaches, Schwartz has accepted a position in the emergency department at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, a setting that fits both her personality and her passion for helping others.
“I like being on my feet, seeing lots of people, and working under pressure,” she said.
She’ll take with her an Ambrosian spirit of compassion, caring for people as individuals and providing care that goes beyond the surface.
“I want to make patients feel heard and seen, and have their needs met,” she said.
Ready to make a difference in people’s lives? Explore the St. Ambrose University nursing program and start your journey toward a career in compassionate, patient-centered care.
