Garbielle Masse never imagined practicing nursing in the midst of a once-in-a-century global pandemic, but in early 2020 she found herself doing just that. Masse was working at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse when the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) to which she’d been assigned was suddenly transformed to an Intensive Care Unit for people who’d contracted Covid-19. Almost overnight it had become clear how severe the public health crisis had become, dominating the news around the world. Masse found herself holding the hands of her seriously ill patients, providing them not only with care, but also with as much solace as she could. Nearly three years have passed since then. For Masse, they have been filled with lessons about compassion, resilience and gratitude that have impacted how she approaches her career and her life overall
A Central New York, native, Masse knew from an early age that she wanted to enter the health care field. She has a stepbrother who lives with disabilities. Over the years, she witnessed the outstanding care he has received and how it has positively impacted his life and the lives of the people who love him. She wanted to leave a similar mark on the world. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in Le Moyne, where she quickly became “part of a community,” she says. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the College in 2017 and completed its Advanced Dual Degree Partnership in Nursing program in 2019. Then she began working as a registered nurse at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in the PCU. It was around the same time that Masse was admitted to Le Moyne’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, and began balancing work and academics. On breaks from school, she took travel RN assignments in the upstate New York area to aid in Covid relief. Upon completing her FNP, she went on to obtain her surgical certification as an NP first assist.
Today Masse is employed at a hospital in Charleston, S.C., where she is preparing to make the transition from ICU nurse to hospitalist, a role that will allow her to use all of her skills as an FNP. She loves taking care of her patients, designing thoughtful treatment plans for them, and educating and empowering them to take ownership of their health and well-being. She credits people like Barb Carranti, a family friend who is a clinical associate professor at Le Moyne, with helping to set her on this path. While still early in her career, the pandemic has already offered her a “reset” of sorts. It has reminded her of the central role compassion plays in the field she has chosen. It has also led her to think deeply about what matters most to her, and what she wants to do to facilitate positive change in the world at a time when many people feel powerless.
“It’s an honor to do this work," she says.
Among the attributes that make Le Moyne’s nursing program distinct is that it offers prospective students direct admission to the program, with a seat guaranteed to them if they meet certain academic requirements. In addition, students are able to take nursing courses during their first year in the program. They also have access to a number of academic resources, including the College’s Writing Center and Quantitative Reasoning Center and a professional nursing tutor.