While working as an orthopedic inpatient unit nurse, Brittany Taylor realized she wanted to advance her knowledge so she could better educate her patients on their medical care.

When it came time to choose where to go to earn her Doctorate in Nursing Practice only one university stood out, her alma mater Grand Valley.

“I knew that I always wanted to come back. I love West Michigan, I love the Laker community, and I love everything that has to do with Grand Valley,” she says.

Having experience as both a health care professional and a student has allowed Brittany to see how valuable the facilities and nursing program are to Grand Valley students.

“The labs that we have at Grand Valley are important because they really do simulate what you would see in the health care and clinical environment,” she says.

Brittany and her cohorts also feel the greatest learning advantage they have is being located on Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile. “It’s the perfect location,” says Brittany. “The resources we’re utilizing are within walking distance.”

Grand Valley was the first to bring students from a wide variety of health sciences professions together in an interdisciplinary educational environment. The health campus expansion’s newest building, the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health will allow the university to continue to evolve its curriculum and expand programs to meet changing health care needs.

“The labs that we have at Grand Valley are important because they really do simulate what you would see in the health care and clinical environment.”

Seeing how different disciplines are needed to address all health care needs, Brittany has been able to play a vital role in the development of the DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health by helping to plan space dedicated to innovation and creative thinking in the new building.

“Ultimately the goal is to create space which fosters interdisciplinary communication and health care innovation,” says Brittany.

Donor gifts have made a huge impact on Brittany’s education. The opportunities, programming, and facilities that are helping her to become a confident leader in the health care field would not be possible without the generosity of Grand Valley donors. As Brittany says, it’s the Laker community that is preparing her to become the nurse practitioner she hopes to be in the future.

“I want my Laker Effect to be multidimensional. I want to be known as a student that came through and not only excelled within the nurse practitioner program, but went out and changed the health care environment within the State of Michigan.”