Full circle: Mother-daughter duo share a love for nursing and an alma mater

As a child, Alexis McNeil watched her mother Dawn Pasquarello Burks (McNeil) graduate with her ABSN and later MSN degree from MUSC College of Nursing. Now 20 years later, she’s followed in her mother’s footsteps by graduating this past May from the same ABSN program. This close pair shared their thoughts about the catalyst for this full circle moment and their special bond as nurses.

What inspired you to pursue nursing? What led you to MUSC?

Dawn: “I was a paramedic and had been working in that profession for almost 10 years. I realized I wanted to help people heal. Being a paramedic, I usually saw patients at their worst moments. Therefore, nursing offered the opportunity to help people heal and to build relationships. What led me to MUSC was a program that Dr. John Welch at MUSC CON started. Thanks to him, a paramedic to BSN program was instituted at MUSC. I was able to get into the accelerated BSN program at MUSC in 2003 with the help of his grant.

Alexis: “I was initially in denial as child that I would go into the field as my mom. I did know that I wanted to work in STEM as science was always my favorite class. I was in college at Winthrop University getting my bachelor’s degree in biology when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. At this time, I was on the pre-med route, but as I was talking to my mother about what was happening around the world in hospitals and expressed how I wanted to be in medicine and help, she basically told me that the way I was talking about the scenario was a nurse’s mindset. That’s when I realized I wanted to become a nurse and began working towards becoming one.”

What is your favorite memory or experience during nursing school?

Dawn: “I have so many memories of nursing school, but I think the best was the opportunity to become friends with others in our class. We became a family.”

Alexis: “I enjoyed the most in nursing school my clinical experience. It helped make what I was learning in the classroom setting feel real and allowed me to see myself as a nurse.”

In what ways did you help Alexis experience the nursing profession?

Dawn: “When Alexis was 14 years old, she came with me to MUSC and started volunteering. She did that for a couple of years. Alexis was able to come with me to see patients, and she was able to witness various procedures. She experienced a multi-faceted view of health care. She was always altruistic, and I knew she would be working in healthcare.”
How has your mom supported you through your own nursing school journey?

Alexis: “After every class and clinical day, we would talk about different content topics that I learned. She helped me piece together a lot of the content that I had to learn. Few people understood an accelerated nursing program and the pressure that went along with it, but she did. She knew exactly what I was going through, which made it so easy to go to her to talk about things.”

What do you love most about sharing a profession with each other?

Dawn: It adds another layer to our relationship. We have shared our experiences ballroom dancing. Now we can share our lives as nurses. It is an honor to see Alexis grow up to become the young lady she is today. Also, for her to follow in my footsteps is priceless.”

Alexis: “I love having someone who I can get advice from, chat about medical/nursing concepts, and just having someone who can understand what my career is like and listen to me talk about it.”

Dawn, what do you love most about your work, and Alexis, what are your plans after graduation?

Dawn: “What I love most about my work is getting to know my patients. I enjoy talking with them and learning about their lives. They become an extension of your family.”

Alexis: “I am moving to Charlotte to work in a MICU Progressive Care unit.”