Nursing student excited to start next chapter

Bailey Noble is right where she's always wanted to be: working as a nurse serving the St. Cloud community.

The soon-to-be St. Cloud State University graduate has wanted to be a nurse since she was a child. When considering colleges to fulfill that dream, SCSU was the logical choice.

"I grew up in St. Cloud. I went to Tech High School, so I already had a really strong connection to the community and a lot of respect for the CentraCare health system and St. Cloud Hospital. I was actually born in St. Cloud Hospital as well and I knew early on that I wanted to eventually be part of the CentraCare health system. I was really drawn to St. Cloud State because of how involved the nursing program is with CentraCare and the clinical opportunities students receive throughout the community," she said. "Choosing SCSU allowed me to stay connected to the community that helped shape me while preparing for a career where I can hopefully give back to that same community. I actually accepted a nursing job offer in the CentraCare ICU, so it's a full circle moment — being born there and then now accepting a nursing job there."

Noble's grandmother played a major part in inspiring her career path.

"My grandmother was a nurse and was one of the first people who inspired me to pursue nursing. That became even more meaningful when she spent her final days in the ICU at the St. Cloud Hospital. During that time, I really saw the comfort and compassion and support the ICU nurses provided — not only to her, but also to my entire family. They helped make an incredibly difficult experience feel more peaceful and supported," she said. "Seeing the impact those nurses had made me want to become the kind of nurse who can be there for patients and families during some of the hardest and most vulnerable moments of their lives. Since beginning nursing school, every clinical experience, patient interaction and opportunity I've had has continued to confirm that nursing is exactly where I'm meant to be."

Noble has been actively involved with the University as an SCSU student. She has served as vice president of both the SCSU Nursing Club and the Love Language Project Club, which creates cards for patients at St. Cloud Hospital. She's a member of the Kappa Phi Nursing Honor Society and has served as a nursing mentor and nursing student tutor. Noble was also part of the Nursing Research Committee and is a member of the National Student Nurses Association. She's had opportunities to volunteer throughout CentraCare, including at the Emergency Trauma Center in St. Cloud Hospital and in Coburn Cancer Center at CentraCare Plaza, and was previously a junior volunteer at St. Cloud Hospital. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed by her peers and professors, as Noble was named an SCSU 2026 Excellence in Leadership Award honoree.

"Receiving the Excellence in Leadership Award is incredibly meaningful to me, because so much of my college experience has been centered around serving others and becoming involved wherever I felt I could make a difference," she said. "To me, leadership is not about having a title. It's about showing up and helping others and taking initiative and trying to leave the people and organizations you're a part of better than you found them. Receiving that award just makes me incredibly grateful for all the people at SCSU and within the St. Cloud community for giving me opportunities to learn and lead and serve."

As Noble approaches graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in December 2026, she has been juggling working 12-hour shifts and completing her capstone project as well her studies.

"Balancing it all definitely can be hard, but it all is definitely doable," she said. "It's all worth it to me because of the difference I make in my patients' lives. Getting to be part of their healing process and seeing them improve every single shift is just so beautiful to watch."

While Noble has been successful in balancing school and work, philanthropic support has lessened some of the stress.

"I grew up in a household with a single mom raising four children, and I watched her work multiple jobs to support our family. Because of that, I've always understood the value of hard work and how meaningful financial support for education can be. Receiving a scholarship helped reduce some of that financial pressure that comes with completing a nursing degree and allows me to put more of my energy toward school and clinical experiences, leadership opportunities, volunteering and preparing for my future career," she said. "More than anything, it is meaningful knowing someone believes enough in nursing students and their futures to invest in us. I'm extremely grateful for that support, and I hope that throughout my career I can find ways to give that same support back to future students."

Noble encouraged fellow and prospective students to take advantage of as many opportunities as they can, and to keep asking questions.

"Nursing school can be challenging, but some of my greatest learning experiences happened because I volunteered, joined an organization, applied for a research opportunity, asked to shadow someone, became involved in leadership or just simply introduced myself to someone whose career interested me. Remember why you chose nursing in the first place," she said. "There will be difficult exams, long clinical days and moments when you question yourself, but then there will be a patient who thanks you, a family who remembers your name or an experience that reminds you exactly why you started. You don't have to know exactly where in your team you belong when you begin. But be willing to learn and stay curious, treat people with kindness and allow your experiences to guide you."

While bittersweet, Noble is excited for what comes next following graduation. She hopes to pay forward some of the support she's received along the way.

"When I look back at my time at St. Cloud State, I think what stands out most is how many people have played a part in getting me to where I am. My professors, clinical instructors, classmates, nurses, mentors, coworkers, patients, family members, donors and people throughout the St. Cloud community have all taught me something. I came into SCSU knowing I wanted to become a nurse, and I'm leaving with an even greater understanding of what it means to care for people, lead, serve, continue learning and be a part of something bigger than myself. I'll graduate from St. Cloud State in December and after graduation I'll begin my nursing career in the ICU at the St. Cloud Hospital. It's just an incredibly full-circle moment for me, because I was born at St. Cloud Hospital and grew up in this community and completed my nursing education at St. Cloud State," she said. "I worked at St. Cloud Hospital throughout nursing school and completed my nursing capstone in the ICU, and now have the opportunity to begin my career as a registered nurse in the same hospital where my own life began. Being able to participate in research and serve through leadership and volunteering and care for patients in the community that raised me has made my experience even more meaningful. I'm incredibly grateful for St. Cloud State and CentraCare and the St. Cloud community for the opportunities they have given me. As I move into my next chapter, I just hope to continue learning and serving others and giving back to the community that has given so much to me."