September 23, 2025

Amid a bustling city like New York, the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is the last place parents want to be. The constant chaos of monitoring, unfamiliar faces, and uncertainty can feel like a parent’s worst nightmare. Working 12-hour shifts is no easy feat, but Elle Fried, MSN, RN, finds a deep sense of fulfillment and pride in helping patients, and she aims to teach others the same.

The New York native noted that her journey to nursing was inspired by the attentive care and compassion nurses provided her aunt throughout her cancer journey.

“My aunt passed away from cancer before I was born, and I grew up hearing the stories about her incredible nurses and how important they were to my mom and her family throughout my aunt’s [cancer] journey,” she said. “I’ve always known that I wanted to make that kind of impact on other families.”

Fried took this love and passion for caregiving to Sunrise Day Camp - Long Island, where she helped support and uplift children battling cancer. Undecided between her love of education and nursing, it was witnessing the resilience of her campers that ultimately ignited her drive to become a pediatric nurse.

Her nursing career began after she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hunter College in 2017 and later completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at New York University in 2019. As a new nurse, Fried started in a large New York area hospital, where she specialized in pediatric progressive care, with plans to become a nurse practitioner. Those plans quickly changed when an opportunity for her secondary calling arose.

“I had initially enrolled in a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program, but when I became a preceptor, everything changed. I had this newfound passion for teaching. Whether I’m precepting a new hire or working with students, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing that ‘aha’ moment when something a learner has been working hard on finally clicks for them.” Fried explained.

Preceptors are licensed clinicians who mentor, train, and guide new nurses during their transition to practice, as well as when they move to a new unit or specialty area. Preceptors are a key piece in bridging the gap between the classroom and hands-on practice. Fried found herself enjoying building relationships with mentees and helping to shape their careers.

“It is so rewarding to have that mentorship experience and seeing the people whom I taught become amazing at their craft, and then [paying it forward] teaching others, and [helping others] become amazing at their craft. The generative effect of education is amazing,” she affirmed.

It was then that Fried decided to continue her love for education at Drexel, pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Nursing Education in the online program.

The online Master of Science in nursing education (MSN) program at Drexel prepares students to use prior nursing experience as a basis to teach both students and colleagues as nursing educators, nursing faculty, or nursing professors in all types of programs, at all levels, in a variety of settings. The curriculum incorporates core graduate level concepts (patient safety, ethics, advocacy, and research), advanced clinical concepts, and contemporary education content to prepare nurses for diverse roles in education. The program includes all nurse educator competencies and prepares graduates to pass the Certified Nursing Educator Exam.

Fried noted that the flexibility of the online program was a huge draw—giving her the freedom to continue her work as a pediatric nurse while pursuing her goals in academia.

“It was the best decision I've ever made,” she said. “This program challenged me in every way. It connected me to the best mentors. I even made two of the best lifelong friends,” she explained. “The personal touch of this program has been amazing. You wouldn't expect it, given that it's online, but it is truly unmatched. The professors here care about each and every student. It's been the most incredible experience.”

During her time at Drexel, Fried was presented with many opportunities to collaborate and find mentorship with professors through research, conferences, and even co-authored a manuscript on mindfulness in graduate education. Fried presented the research project titled Digital Zen: The Effects of an Online Mindfulness Course on Graduate Student Stress, Resilience, and Grit at the 2024 International Conference on Health, Wellness, and Society alongside Drexel professors Jackie Murphy, EdD, Rita Carroll, PhD, and Jennifer Myers, MSN.

“I mentioned that I was interested in research, and my preceptor made it happen. I had the opportunity to co-author a manuscript with several professors, and it was recently accepted for publication in Holistic Nursing Practice. We’ve also presented [the research] at multiple conferences. At Drexel, the sky is kind of the limit--you ask, and they try to make it happen,” she expressed. “It was such an amazing experience because I not only got to learn about the research process from beginning to end, but I got to work so closely with my mentors. I learned so much along the way, and I feel more confident going into my next phase of learning.”

When asked about the future of nursing, Fried offered these words:

“Nursing is really the heart of healthcare, and our voices are more important than ever. I think the future is bright as we continue to advocate for our role, embrace innovation, and take on more leadership, educational, and research responsibilities. My advice for new nurses is to find mentors who inspire and challenge you. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Six years later, and I definitely haven’t. Having a mentor, you trust can make all the difference in how supported and confident you feel as you grow.” Fried emphasized

Fried's dedication to nursing is evident, as she was honored in 2023 with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The DAISY award honors and recognizes nurses that go above and beyond to provide excellent, compassionate care to patients and their families.

Looking ahead, Fried hopes to obtain her Doctorate in Nursing and potentially move into a more dedicated teaching role, following in the footsteps of the mentors who inspired her.

Written by: Myleah Herbert '25