Ciana Rose of Tomahawk, who earned her accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UW-Oshkosh in fall 2023, will graduate May 16 as part of the first cohort of the university’s BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Rose, who also served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2020 to 2025, says her military experience strengthened the mental toughness, discipline and empathy that now guide her future in psychiatric mental health care.
When a patient in respiratory failure grasped for air in a northern Wisconsin emergency department, Ciana Rose saw more than a medical crisis. As clinicians prepared to intubate, she reviewed the patient’s chart and saw a long history of trauma and substance use.
In that moment, the connection became clear. The physical emergency in front of her was only part of the story. “That was really the moment that solidified it for me,” Rose said.
During clinicals in UW-Oshkosh’s accelerated nursing program in January 2022, Ciana Rose gained firsthand experience caring for patients, experiences that helped solidify her decision to pursue psychiatric mental health nursing.
That realization set her on a path toward psychiatric care, one that now culminates with her graduation May 16 from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
Rose is one of three students in the first cohort to graduate from the BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, a milestone for UW-Oshkosh as it prepares advanced practice nurses to meet growing mental health care needs across Wisconsin and beyond.
The inaugural cohort includes Rose of Tomahawk, Elise Boucher of Chicago and Cassie Fissell of De Pere.
“This first BSN to DNP PMHNP cohort represents a proud and historic milestone for the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh,” said Bonnie Nickasch, program director. “It strengthens our role in preparing highly skilled advanced practice nurses to meet the growing mental health needs of our region. For the community, these graduates mean expanded access to compassionate, evidence based psychiatric mental health care.”
A path shaped by purpose
Nursing was not Rose’s first plan. She earned a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 2017 before deciding to pursue a career in health care. Her decision was deeply personal. As her grandmother faced pancreatic cancer, Rose found herself reflecting on what it meant to build a meaningful life.
“I was really reflecting on her life and kind of promised myself I was going to pursue my version of that dream,” she said.
Not long after her grandmother’s death, Rose felt what she describes as a clear calling to serve. Within weeks, she had enlisted in the United States Army Reserve, setting in motion a path that would shape both her personal growth and professional direction.
Ciana Rose of Tomahawk credits her service in the U.S. Army Reserve and Army Corps of Engineers with deepening her understanding of trauma, resilience and the strength required to serve others under pressure.
Forged through service
Since joining the Army Reserve in 2020, Rose has served as a non-commissioned officer and sergeant in the Army Corps of Engineers. In 2021, she was mobilized to Fort McCoy in Wisconsin as part of Operation Allies Welcome, supporting thousands of Afghan refugees resettling in the United States.
Working in that environment left a lasting impression, both personally and professionally.
“I remember young women telling us they weren’t allowed to go to school under Taliban rule and how grateful they were to be attending school again,” she said.
Her military training also shaped her resilience and perspective in ways that now carry into her clinical work.
“It built a level of mental toughness that carries over directly into school and psychiatry,” she said.
That background has proven especially meaningful in her work with veterans during clinical placements.
“My military background helps build trust,” she said. “I understand the culture and some of the realities of military life, and that helps patients feel safe enough to open up.”
Finding her path in psychiatry
Rose enrolled in the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at UW-Oshkosh in 2021, graduating in fall 2023. She entered the BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program in January 2024 as part of its first cohort.
The doctoral program was designed to prepare nurses for the highest level of advanced practice in psychiatric mental health care. Through a combination of hybrid coursework, clinical training and more than 700 hours of practicum experience across a variety of settings, students develop the skills to assess, diagnose and treat patients across the lifespan.
For Rose, it was during her clinical experiences that her focus on psychiatric care became clear. Working with patients experiencing trauma, substance use and chronic illness, she began to see the connections between mental health and physical health outcomes.
“If mental health had been preserved and healed, what could have changed down the line,” she said.
Faculty mentorship also played a key role in shaping her next steps. Rose credits Nickasch, who taught a course on caring for vulnerable populations, with helping her understand the importance of structured support early in her career.
From left, Alyssa Forslin, DNP Project committee member; Ciana Rose, BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner student; and Bonnie Nickasch, DNP Project chair and program director, stand with Rose’s research presentation at the Wisconsin Nurses Association APRN Pharmacology and Clinical Update conference April 17 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Wisconsin Dells.
“Dr. Nickasch emphasized how critical the first year of practice is, and how a structured, supportive environment can set the foundation for better patient outcomes and long term career success,” Rose said.
Nickasch said Rose has distinguished herself throughout the program.
“It has been a true joy to work with Ciana, a standout BSN to DNP PMHNP student with exceptional academic strength and a consistently positive, uplifting presence,” Nickasch said. “I am excited for her upcoming graduation and PMHNP VA fellowship, and I look forward to witnessing her successful transition into the role of a skilled advanced practice nurse.”
Preparing for what comes next
Following graduation, Rose will begin a one year psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner residency at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
The fellowship offers additional mentored clinical training, giving new practitioners time to develop their skills while working with complex patient cases across a range of psychiatric settings.
“To me, being selected means I’m one step closer to becoming the top tier psychiatric provider I envision,” she said.
Cassie Fissell, BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner student, left, poses with Bonnie Nickasch, DNP Project chair and program director. Fissell, who is a member of the UW- Oshkosh’s inaugural PMHNP graduating doctoral cohort, presented at the Wisconsin Nurses Association APRN Pharmacology and Clinical Update conference April 17 at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Wisconsin Dells.
Her long term goal is to work closely with veterans and first responders, populations she feels especially connected to through her own experiences.
Growth through challenge
Balancing doctoral coursework, clinical placements and long distance travel between Tomahawk, Oshkosh and VA sites required discipline and persistence. Rose said the experience pushed her both professionally and personally, particularly when working with patients facing severe mental health challenges.
“You need to make sure that you’re okay and settled because you’re helping people through some of the most difficult experiences of their lives,” she said.
Looking back, she is most proud of committing fully to a new path.
“I made the decision to change directions and fully commit to nursing and psychiatry, and I followed through,” she said.
Rose plans to take her board exams immediately after graduation before beginning her residency in September. She also hopes to continue growing her ability to serve patients in meaningful ways, including studying Spanish to better connect with diverse communities.
For Rose, the work ahead is rooted in both skill and empathy, shaped by experiences that have taught her both resilience and compassion.
“I know the strength it takes for someone to walk into a mental health setting and ask for help,” she said.
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