Top 20 ED Nurses Under 40 from the 2023 Emergency Nurses Association Recognizes PhD Candidate, Juan Gonzalez
In a surprising twist of fate, Juan M. González, a highly accomplished nurse with a plethora of credentials, found his true calling in emergency nursing during his final rotation in nursing school. Originally aiming for a career in oncology due to his family’s medical history, Juan’s passion for emergency nursing was ignited by the autonomy it offered, along with the opportunity to address a wide spectrum of emergent and non-emergent cases.
Today, as an advanced practice nurse at Baptist Health South Florida Criticare and Envision, Juan thrives on the diversity of patients he encounters, which allows him to develop critical thinking skills and educate patients on preventive measures. He balances clinical work with his role as an associate professor of clinical at the University of Miami School of Nursing Health Studies, seeing the synergy between teaching and clinical practice as mutually beneficial.
A standout aspect of Juan’s teaching experience is mentoring and guiding students, especially when overseeing them in clinical settings, which he finds deeply rewarding. Committed to continuous growth, he is pursuing a DNP to PhD program at Barry University, focusing on the assessment of how ED nurses address social determinants of health.
Juan’s future aspirations include establishing a postgraduate program to aid emergency nurses in transitioning to clinical practice and securing grant funding to support minority and disadvantaged NP students during their training. His altruistic spirit extends beyond academia, as he leads mission trips to provide healthcare in countries like Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Jamaica, and spearheads programs to care for unhoused individuals within the United States.
When he’s not immersed in his professional and academic pursuits, Juan enjoys the simple joys of life: barbecuing, salsa dancing with his wife, and cherishing precious moments with his two young daughters.
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