Chelsea Ligsay¡¯s path to graduation spans from teen mother to nurse and mentor. On May 16, she will earn her master of science in nursing education and leadership from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ .
“I was inspired to return to school after discovering my passion for precepting new graduate nurses and witnessing their growth into confident, motivated and competent professionals committed to providing excellent patient care,” she said.
A graduate from Farrington High School and teen mother at the time, she earned her BS in nursing from UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ in 2011. She is currently working at The Queen¡¯s Medical Center on the cardiac telemetry unit where she has been for 13 years.
As part of her practicum, Ligsay worked with the Kilolani Project, a diabetes management program based at Queen Emma Clinics that uses a multidisciplinary team—including nurses, pharmacists and a Native Hawaiian patient navigator—to improve engagement and outcomes through culturally grounded care.
“The mission of the Kilolani Project to engage vulnerable populations in improving their health and knowledge through cultural connection deeply resonated with my personal purpose and commitment to service,” she said.
At The Queen¡¯s Medical Center, she worked alongside patient navigator Lauralee “Ulu” Ana to support diabetes education group sessions and outreach efforts. Ligsay focused on strengthening participation in group sessions by building relationships and trust with patients, while helping facilitate culturally grounded, evidence-based education.
She said the experience reinforced the importance of understanding health through cultural context, particularly in Indigenous communities where cultural identity is closely tied to wellbeing.
Inspiring the next generation
Looking ahead, Ligsay said she will continue serving as a dedicated nurse preceptor, strengthened by enhanced leadership skills and refined approaches to teaching and training.
“Through this journey, I have discovered new ways to contribute to the nursing profession by sharing the knowledge and insight I have gained to help guide, support, and inspire future generations of nurses,” she said.
In the near future, she also hopes to pursue a clinical nurse faculty position at the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, where she can further develop her passion for teaching in an academic setting.