Nursing major Alaina Goodwin graduates despite spinal cord injury
Alaina Goodwin is not afraid of a challenge. The nursing program at Salve Regina is challenging in itself, but after suffering a spinal cord injury before her first year in college, Goodwin was faced with the new difficulty of living with a disability while pursuing higher education.
Goodwin didn’t let any physical obstacles hinder her academic career, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a minor in healthcare administration. She was also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society and the Student Nursing Organization.
In her free time, Goodwin coached young adults with intellectual and physical disabilities in basketball for Special Olympics and supported patients with new spinal cord injuries throughout their recovery process.
Goodwin admitted that she was apprehensive about her college experience during her first year and unsure how she would navigate college with a disability. “I often questioned, ‘How am I going to make it through nursing?'” she said. “‘Will I fit in? Will I be able to do all of the things the other students can?'”
Goodwin said that Dr. Terri Legare, assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, had a tremendous impact on her confidence. Legare assured Goodwin that she was strong enough to be a nurse and that her peers and faculty would be with her every step of the way.
“She was right,” Goodwin said. “Everyone was there for me. My physical abilities were never questioned, as all of my classmates and professors believed in me.”
Goodwin said that her most memorable experiences at Salve Regina were her clinicals and the support she received from her professors and classmates, who pushed her to be the best she could be. As a nursing student, she received more complex patients and responsibilities as she progressed in her studies, and she was expected to apply her knowledge from the classroom in real world settings. Whenever she needed assistance, someone was always there for encouragement and guidance.
“Alaina has and will surpass any challenge and will succeed in the nursing profession,” said Dr. Debra Cherubini, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Nursing. “She is most noteworthy of recognition for all that she has accomplished and overcome while being a student at Salve Regina.”
Goodwin hopes to pursue a career in outpatient oncology. Her capstone clinical was at the Hudner Oncology Center associated with Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts. “I loved the atmosphere and being able to build strong relationships with my patients week after week,” she said.
Her long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner at an oncology practice or family practice. No matter what the future holds, her Salve Regina experience was marked by the friendships she had with classmates and faculty. “Everyone at Salve made my time so beyond special,” she said. “I can confidently say that these people will be in my life for a very, very long time.”
Article written by student writer Anna K. Downes ’22
