Nursing graduate Faith Friess is following God’s call outside of her comfort zone.
Graduating student Faith Friess didn’t want a career in nursing. Blood made her queasy, and she stayed far away from hospitals. But when her mom survived a complicated medical procedure, she changed her mind.
It was during the coronavirus pandemic that Friess’s mom was admitted to the ICU. Because of additional restrictions, she wasn’t allowed any visitors, except for Friess’s grandmother. If it wasn’t for her grandmother’s updates, Friess wouldn’t have known whether her mom was going to make it.
“We were just waiting at home and listening to my Nana tell us the stories,” she remembered. “At one point, my mom was on a ventilator, so she couldn’t call us or talk to us about anything. When my Nana would go visit her, she would tell us the stories of the nurses and how they treated her and how excited the nurses would be when they saw my mom progress and start to get well.
“At that point, the Lord really put nursing on my heart, and I [thought], okay, maybe I can do this.”
Starting a New Path
Motivated by the care her mom received, Friess started looking for schools where she could study nursing and her secondary interest, classical studies, in an honors program. When she stumbled upon Palm Beach Atlantic University’s (PBA) website, she felt God’s prompting to take the next step toward her career.
“Being accepted into the honors program was one of the main reasons I came to PBA,” she said. “I was looking for a Christian nursing school, and when I found PBA online, the Lord put it on my heart. And when I got accepted into honors, I [thought], okay, the door’s open; I know [God’s] calling me here.”
Hailing from Michigan, Friess was concerned about out-of-state tuition fees until she received PBA’s Honors Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship. The Honors Scholarship awards $2,500 per year to full-time students who meet the minimum requirement for high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores; the Presidential Scholarship is the highest tier available to students who apply for the Academic Merit Scholarship, which is also dependent on high school or transfer GPA.
Finding Her Niche
Since beginning her studies at PBA, Friess has discovered a passion for her field. Opportunities to gain experience at clinical sites have reinforced her confidence and helped her choose a specialty in emergency medicine.
Friess also had the opportunity to spend one of her spring breaks in El Salvador on a medical mission trip. Each day, her team would hike a mountain and set up a clinic, where they supported a doctor and cared for patients. Friess says she enjoyed the dual focus on medicine and spreading the Gospel and cherishes the times she got to pray for patients.
“I wanted to use the skills I’ve cultivated and serve others with those gifts and skills I’ve learned at PBA’s nursing school,” she said. “But I also wanted another main focus, ministry-wise, and to be able to share God’s word and do that aspect of a mission trip; both working together.”
Moved by Community
Engaging with the community on campus has been another powerful aspect of her student experience. Walking alongside fellow Christians–students and faculty–who continually point her to Christ has made a profound impact on her life, she says. One of her biggest encouragers is her now-husband, Jacob Friess, whom she met in an honors class.
“Jake’s calling is in the Marines, and my call is in nursing,” she said. “We don’t know where we’ll end up, but we’ll be side by side together, and our goal is to grow God’s kingdom.”
Of the 36 students graduating from the School of Nursing this May, Friess has been named the school’s Outstanding Graduate. She will cross the stage at the same time as her husband, who has been named the Outstanding Graduate of the Frederick M. Supper Honors Program.
While her husband is commissioned into the United States Marines, she plans to pursue her career in emergency medicine. Eventually, she is considering earning a graduate degree in teaching so she can follow the example set by her professors.
“PBA has helped me not lose sight of my faith or get overly distracted in academics,” she reflected. “The community of friends and faculty has helped me learn a lot and grow in my faith so that when I am in a hospital setting, caring for patients, I can care for them, body, mind, and soul. That is what PBA nursing has ingrained in me.”
As Friess practices holistic care, she remembers the care provided to her mom, which continues to motivate her career.
“I want to care for someone else’s mom, dad, brother, sister–someone else’s loved one–and give them the care that someone else might not be able to,” she said.
Learn more about PBA’s School of Nursing program at https://www.pba.edu/academics/schools/nursing/.
