Nursing student completes memorable journey at BGSU

Anna Lipinski makes the most of journey to becoming a School of Nursing graduate

Long before she began pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Bowling Green State University, Anna Lipinski remembers touring campus with one thought in mind.

With two BGSU alumni in her immediate family, Lipinski became familiar with the University and its campus at a young age, and she saw herself growing up to become a Falcon.

“My stepsister gave me a personal tour of BGSU and took us to a hockey game, and it was pouring down rain, but I still remember saying, ‘I want to grow up and go here,’” Lipinski said. “When colleges weren’t doing tours during COVID and I was evaluating where to go, I already knew BGSU and knew they were getting their own nursing program, so it was perfect.”

Years later, the dream is nearly a reality.

Lipinski, a Thompson Working Families Scholar and a native of Waynesville, Ohio, was among the 74 graduates of the BGSU School of Nursing, which honored its third cohort of bachelor-level nurses in a pinning ceremony on April 29.

In direct response to shortages in the healthcare workforce, BGSU founded its School of Nursing within the College of Health and Human Services in 2020.

During her time at the University, Lipinski found her calling as an intensive care nurse, working with smaller caseloads but helping patients with greater needs. Through her classwork and clinical placement, she received affirmation she was on the right path.

“When I was given the chance to be on the ICU side and use clinical judgment early on, that made such a big difference for me,” Lipinski said. “I had an amazing clinical instructor and a lot of nurses on that floor who gave good advice and let me ask questions, and that feels really good.

“I was so thankful I learned how to administer medication through OG or nasal-gastric tubes, insert chest tubes and dress wounds, because I was really nervous to do that. I remember having a patient who had heart surgery, so I was very grateful to be able to apply that knowledge to help a patient, which is what it’s all about.”

Prior to graduation, Lipinski already has accepted a position with Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.

Lipinski was pinned by Elizabeth Martin, an associate teaching professor in the School of Nursing, an influential guide on her path to becoming a registered nurse.

“She has been such an amazing person to teach us who really cares about the material and wants us to soak it in,” Lipinski said. “She gives us a lot of personal experience that lets you correlate what you’re learning with a real-life experience that adds a level to learning.”

Lipinski was highly involved in on-campus organizations, including the Student Nurses’ Association, Order of Omega, Kappa Delta Sorority and served as a BSN curriculum advocate.

Four years later, Lipinski recalled being pushed to get involved as a new freshman, advice she took to heart to maximize her time at BGSU.

“I knew when I came to college, I wanted to make the most out of it and make a lot of friends, so I just said ‘Yes’ to a lot of things,” Lipinski said. “During my freshman orientation, they really told us to do something for your major and at least one fun thing as well, and I really took that and ran with it.”