shanice clayton
Shanice Clayton is driven by a passion to make a meaningful impact in health care.
Currently enrolled in the BSN-to-DNP program at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner, Shanice graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in May 2025 and is expected to complete her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in December 2025. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the college.
“These degrees will significantly enhance my ability to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care to individuals and families,” she said. “They’re also laying the foundation for future leadership and academic roles, allowing me to contribute to clinical practice, education, advocacy and policy.”
Her journey into nursing began in high school while volunteering at a local hospital. She performed simple yet meaningful tasks like bringing warm blankets to patients and refilling their water pitchers. During those shifts, Shanice observed firsthand how nurses were the heart of the health care team.
The nurses were constantly on the move—placing IVs, administering medications, coordinating with physicians and other team members, and calmly springing into action during emergencies, she said.
“It was in those quiet, everyday moments and in the more intense ones that I realized nursing wasn’t just a career; it was a calling rooted in compassion, skill and leadership,” Shanice shared.
She was inspired to pursue nursing through a deep desire to serve others and be present for people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
“Nursing allows me to combine compassion with science, and that balance has always resonated with me,” she stated.
Throughout her time at Florida Atlantic, Shanice has been recognized for her commitment to excellence. In spring 2025, she received both the graduate student Clinical Excellence Award and the Daisy Award.
She credits much of her growth to the mentorship of several faculty members at the College of Nursing. “Their wealth of clinical experience and educational backgrounds have helped shape my understanding of advanced practice nursing,” she said. “They’ve inspired me to one day return to academia as a faculty member and pay it forward to future nursing students.”
Her academic success has been supported by numerous scholarships, including the Palm Health Foundation Nursing Scholarship, Kay Carpenter Nursing Scholarship, Cross Country Healthcare Scholarship, DNP Scholarship Award, Andrew P. Barowsky Scholarship, and the Helen K. Persson Nursing Education Scholarship.
Shanice has also been deeply involved in service work. Her volunteer efforts span organizations and events such as Feeding South Florida, Feeding Palm Beach County, the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, Pancreatic Cancer Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, NAMI Walks for Mental Health, the George Snow Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament, community health screenings and FAU Doctoral Peer Mentoring. She has served on the FAU Committee on Students, participated in the AACN Student Policy Summit and Grassroots Network, and joined a study abroad program in Antigua, Guatemala.
After graduation, Shanice plans to work as a Family Nurse Practitioner in a community health center serving vulnerable populations. She also hopes to publish the findings of her DNP project, which focuses on HIV prevention in the primary care setting.