Rapid Response Nurse Pursues Advanced Degree, Wins Accolades

For Kendra Pierre, R.N., patient advocacy and nursing excellence go hand in hand.

A second-year student in Seton Hall College of Nursing’s M.S.N. in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program and a rapid response nurse at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital, Pierre has built a rewarding career in critical care nursing over the past decade, steadily advancing her skills while deepening her connection to her patients and the communities she serves. She has worked in three states, including successive travel nurse assignments during the pandemic, gaining diverse clinical experience in high-acuity settings.

Pierre was recently honored with a 2024 Scholarship Award from the Greater New York City Black Nurses Association (GNYCBNA) for her advocacy work, which includes  volunteering at health education initiatives in Harlem and mentoring high school students in lower Manhattan.

“Kendra is a dedicated nursing professional who has successfully balanced coursework, career and community outreach,” said College of Nursing Interim Dean Kristi Stinson, Ph.D., R.N., A.P.N.-B.C. “She is an outstanding example of what it means to be a Seton Hall servant leader, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved award.”

Pierre began her nursing career in Massachusetts in 2014 and found her niche in intensive care and post-anesthesia care units during the COVID-19 crisis. Drawing on her experience as a pandemic-era travel nurse and her current role at Tisch Hospital, she has observed firsthand the crucial role of advanced practice nurses in some of the busiest healthcare systems in Atlanta, Boston and New York.

“The world was in a vulnerable state,” Pierre reflected on the pandemic. “There was — and still is — a great need for trained mid-level professionals, such as acute care nurse practitioners, to help reduce the strain on hospitals while also aiming to save as many lives as possible.”

It’s no surprise that when Pierre decided to pursue an advanced nursing degree, she was drawn to the acute care nurse practitioner role for its ability to bridge gaps in critical care settings. In 2024, she enrolled in the College of Nursing’s M.S.N. in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program, one of five nurse practitioner programs offered by the University.

A hallmark of Seton Hall’s M.S.N. in Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs is their flexible, asynchronous online format, which allows students to continue working while earning their degree. Pierre, for example, can structure her studies around hospital shifts and her role as a graduate assistant (a position awarded to select students by the University to defray tuition costs).

Another key factor in her decision to enroll at Seton Hall was the supportive expertise of the nursing faculty, all of whom continue to work as practicing clinicians. “The program allows me to build on my work experience while learning from professors who are experts in their fields,” Pierre said.

Two faculty members who have made a lasting impact on her are Associate Professor Katherine Hinic, Ph.D., and Clinical Assistant Professor Moira Kendra, D.N.P. “They have taught me the importance of grasping the gravity of the medical management of acute-on-chronic health conditions and being able to do comprehensive health assessments of patients,” she said.

Looking ahead, Pierre said, “As I transition from the R.N. role to the Advanced Practice (A.P.R.N.) role in an acute care clinical setting, I want to contribute to nursing research, advocate for high-risk adult patients and further develop my comprehensive critical thinking skills in emergency or high-acuity settings.”

As Kendra Pierre moves closer to her 2026 graduation, her impact — both in the hospital and in the community — continues to grow, setting the stage for a career dedicated to advocacy, education and excellence in patient care.

About the College of Nursing’s Graduate Programs

Nationally recognized for educational excellence, Seton Hall’s College of Nursing offers eight graduate degree programs, with coursework delivered in a flexible, asynchronous online format: six online Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) program and a hybrid Ph.D. in Nursing program. The College maintains its status as a premier institution for graduate nursing education, consistently ranking among the top 25 nationally and as the #1 program in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.

Categories: Health and Medicine