Alaysia Broccoli
Alaysia Broccoli, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program student, knew she wanted to have a career in medicine since she was four years old.
She remembers, even as a child, recognizing the respect people gave doctors and nurses.
“I felt a sense of awe, imagining medical staff as superheroes. From that very young age, I decided that I would stop at nothing to achieve my goals,” Alaysia shared.
Growing up as the second oldest of six children, she began pushing herself to earn immaculate grades, propelled forward by a hunger for education and intense curiosity. Alaysia said her need for knowledge could be summed up in endless “whys:” Why do humans need air to breathe? Why is it that a smell can trigger a memory? Why does the heart just suddenly stop working?
“I had always felt I was meant for something great and destined to impact the world positively,” Alaysia said, adding that while she entered the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program with the intent to use it as a stepping stone to becoming a doctor, she fell in love with nursing and the compassion it takes to be a nurse.
During her undergraduate studies, Alaysia was awarded the Lamplighter, the Kay Carpenter, and the Rothenberger Scholarships. After graduating with her BSN, she was nominated for a Daisy Award six months into being a Registered Nurse. Following a position at the Ocean Medical Center in New Jersey, she is now a manager of RNs doing telehealth at Centers Plan for Healthy Living in Margate, Florida. Alaysia said her passion for helping those in need, healing the world, and making a positive impact on the lives of others were the main motives behind choosing a path in nursing.
“That is still my goal as I move forward throughout my career, no matter what roles or positions I fulfill,” she said. Once she receives her MSN in Spring 2026, she hopes to be an FNP in a private practice where she will be able to see the same patients regularly
Alaysia counts Javaris Hammond, Director of Student Services and her academic advisor during her BSN program at FAU, as her mentor.
“Javaris always supported me and had my best interests at heart. He is such a positive person and never fails to make me laugh. I truly appreciate how much he did for me during my journey to become an RN,” she shared.
Alaysia's interest in volunteering blossomed during her freshman year of undergraduate studies when she joined "Yoga Buddies" with Parkland Buddies Sports. This program pairs volunteers with individuals facing physical or mental disabilities. As former co-president of the Student Nurse Ambassador Program (SNAP) at the College of Nursing, Alaysia actively recruited and supported future nursing students, fostering connections with peers, alumni, and faculty. She loved meeting the next wave of nurses, offering vital support, and helping them find their unique path to success.