Jimmy Amaro’s grandmother, Maria, was his inspiration. So, when she suggested that he pursue a career in helping people, young Jimmy knew he would follow that path. “My goal was to go to medical school, but I decided partway through to switch to nursing,” says Jimmy, who is originally from Puerto Rico. At age 16, he became a License Practical Nurse, then joined a hospice care center and an emergency department at a hospital per diem.
Emergency Department Nursing
Jimmy decided to further his education and earned an Associate Degree in Nursing while working full-time. “The emergency room taught me so much, and I realized how much I enjoy caring for patients,” he says. He also pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, finishing the degree in 2015. That allowed him to become a Registered Nurse in the emergency department.
For the next several years, Jimmy worked his way up in emergency nursing. To position himself to pursue management and leadership positions, he returned to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in adult and elderly patients. Jimmy became a manager at the hospital where he worked and a director of clinical operations for the city of San Juan.
He began teaching on the side as well at two universities. Later, he joined the University of Dr. Carlos J. Borrero as program director of the nursing program. “I found that I liked helping students improve and grow as nurses,” he says. “It’s an amazing experience to teach students.”
A Move Toward Nursing Education
The more Jimmy taught, the more he loved it. His director at the university encouraged him to explore doctorate programs. “I started researching possibilities and found American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University,” he says. “Everyone at Post University took care of me every time I had a question. The university is affordable and convenient, offering me the opportunity to do online clinicals.” Jimmy enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Executive Leadership Specialization in the fall of 2017, opting for it over the DNP – Educational Leadership Specialization. “I felt that I could teach with either specialization, but the executive leadership specialization would allow me more options.”
Life Turned Upside Down
Jimmy worked his way through school while working full-time at the hospital during the COVID pandemic. However, life presented a new challenge once the calendar flipped to 2021. In February, he was diagnosed with cancer.
“I wanted to get the best care possible, so I went to Florida, where there were more specialists with the kind of cancer I had,” he recalls. He joined an emergency and urgent care center as a nurse and underwent extensive treatment. Once that finished, Jimmy took a new opportunity with Advent Health in the emergency department at Partin Settlement. He also began teaching again in 2023—at Herzing University in the nursing program and at an online college.
A Never Give Up Attitude
When Jimmy was diagnosed, he was just three classes from finishing the DNP. He did not want to stop, but had no choice but to put his educational pursuit on hold. “I called up my DNP advisor and told her what was going on and that I needed to pause for a while,” he says. “She not only understood and supported me, but she also helped me get a part-time instructor position at a second university so I could keep paying for my home and my bills. Post and the people there helped me through a difficult time.”
As a father to a now 10-year-old and another 5-year-old, Jimmy focused on his health, family and work for the rest of 2022 and 2023. But his oldest son had wise words for his father. “He said, ‘Why don’t you finish school, Dad? Do not quit,’” Jimmy recalls. “That was all the motivation I needed to finish.” In May 2024, Jimmy earned the DNP – Executive Leadership Specialization at American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University.
At Long Last, a Doctor
Jimmy’s late grandmother always encouraged him to become a doctor, and now he can finally say he did. “I completed this for her as much as me,” he says. His goal now is to be the best educator he can be at the three colleges where he teaches, one of which is Interamerican University, the San Juan, Puerto Rico, campus. Jimmy joined the university in April 2024 and still teaches at two other colleges.
To others who want to better their futures with advanced nursing education, Jimmy says do not wait. “I recommend Post University because the administration and professors are supportive and involved, and because it is affordable,” he says. “It wasn’t easy, of course, but it was a good experience. I’m a stronger person and I’m so glad I did this.”