This May, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) honors National Nurses Month and National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and the invaluable contributions that nurses—including our nursing faculty, alumni, and students-—make in healthcare and in all our lives. Alongside our recent celebration of nursing graduates at the 2026 Nursing Convocation and Pinning Ceremony, we are pleased to showcase two students in the School’s top-rated online BS in Nursing program. In the feature below, contributing writer Tanzina Vega shares the stories of these student nurses and how their CUNY SPS education has shaped their professional caregiving career.
Lindsay Kim (pictured left) is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at CUNY SPS as part of a dual/joint program with Queensborough Community College. She expects to graduate this May. Today, Kim is a registered nurse on a medical-surgical unit at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York where she provides patient care to “a diverse population, including many older adults with complex medical conditions.”
Kim said she chose the CUNY SPS program “because of its flexibility and strong support for working nurses.” A mother of two daughters, Kim noted said the BSN program at CUNY SPS allowed her to balance full-time work, school, and raising a family. “it was important for me to find a program that could accommodate my schedule while still providing a high-quality education.”
One of the highlights of her CUNY SPS experience so far was her capstone project. “I am focusing on hospital-acquired pressure injury prevention in older adult patients,” said Kim. “This project has allowed me to apply evidence-based practice directly to my clinical setting and has strengthened my understanding of patient safety and quality improvement.”
At Flushing Hospital, Kim’s day-to-day responsibilities include performing patient assessments, administering medications, and coordinating care. “Nursing is not just a job for me—it is my dream,” said Kim. “I truly love what I do, and I am committed to continuing to learn every day and advance my career in nursing.”
Kim began her journey toward her nursing career when she worked as a biller in a physical therapy office. “While I gained valuable experience in healthcare, I realized that I wanted to be more directly involved in patient care,” she said. “I wanted to work closer to patients and physically provide care rather than being behind the scenes.”
Today Kim is said she’s interested in pursuing an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialization and a certificate in wound care. “My long-term goal is to provide comprehensive, preventive, and patient-centered care to adult and older adult populations. I am especially interested in improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice and continuing to focus on patient safety initiatives such as pressure injury prevention,” said Kim.
For Olubunmi Henry Olayinka (pictured left), his undergrad nursing studies at CUNY SPS have led him to a full-time job as a registered nurse at Manhattan Psychiatric Center, an inpatient psychiatric hospital in New York City. “I provide safe, ethical, culturally competent, and evidence-based care to support the well-being and recovery of my patients,” Olayinka said. Like Kim, Olayinka said he chose the CUNY SPS BSN program because of its flexibility for working adults and “the institution’s academic resources, including tutoring, writing support, and highly accessible faculty who are both knowledgeable and consistently responsive.”
So far Olayinka’s biggest surprise during his studies has been “how quickly nursing requires both strong clinical skill and deep emotional resilience,” he said. “Even with solid academic preparation, the level of responsibility at the bedside was truly eye-opening. I was also struck by how meaningful it is to advocate for patients and support them during their most vulnerable moments. The combination of rapid learning, human connection, and continuous professional growth has been both unexpected and profoundly rewarding.”
Olayinka said he plans to advance within the psychiatric field, “providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care while expanding my role in patient advocacy and education.” In addition to providing quality healthcare, Olayinka hopes the industry will also support nurses by increasing staffing, improving conditions, and giving nurses a stronger voice in shaping public policies. “Ultimately, I hope to contribute to improving access to quality, ethical psychiatric services, and support individuals living with mental health conditions through compassionate, patient-centered practice,” he said.
About the CUNY SPS Online Nursing Programs
The CUNY School of Professional Studies offers a portfolio of online degrees and advanced certificate programs in nursing to help fill the growing void within the healthcare system. Serving as the first fully online nursing degree in the CUNY system, our programs help nurses advance within their careers while continuing their education in a timely, flexible, and affordable way.
About the CUNY School of Professional Studies
As New York's leading online school since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With over 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.
Press Contact
Prerna Dar
CUNY SPS Chief Marketing Officer
Prerna.dar@cuny.edu