KENNESAW, Ga. | Dec 6, 2024

Iwalani Reiser has always thrived amid chaos, starting as a teenager on a voluntary ambulance crew in Bangkok and continuing as a paramedic in Atlanta.

From the fast pace of nearly two decades in emergency medicine, she slowed down just enough to earn her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Kennesaw State University, with a focus on becoming a family nurse practitioner (FNP). The career adjustment means she will be working in an office and providing healthcare, quite a switch from working in an emergency room and riding in an ambulance.

“My goal was always to work with the fire department as a firemedic,” she said. “But I want to transition to a different role because the streets get hard after a while. KSU was a perfect landing spot with its master’s program.”

Reiser spent most of her early life in Thailand where her father served in the U.S. Army. Before long, she needed a job, and she joined a volunteer ambulance service called Poh Teck Tung, which started her journey in emergency medicine. When she returned to the U.S. at 21, fluent in Thai, she earned her emergency medicine and firefighting certifications and has worked in that field ever since—even while earning her master’s.

Indirectly, she learned about the more specialized world of nurse practitioners while a paramedic for Grady Health System in Atlanta. Grady had a mobile unit with specialized EMS personnel and an FNP to handle preventive measures such as administering medication, providing care, and diagnosing symptoms.

“You'd be surprised how many calls were able to free an ambulance up and just take care of the patient right then,” Reiser said. “That really made me think about becoming a family nurse practitioner, something I didn't think much about before. It just became more important to me, and KSU offered one of the best programs.”

KSU’s program for FNPs involves going to school for four consecutive semesters. The program requires self-direction and students take hybrid courses—in-person classes every other weekend—and gaining more than 600 hours of advanced clinical experience through practicums. With the help of professor of nursing Susan Beidler, Reiser stayed on track.

“This program was a wake-up call—we have research to do and papers to write and I wasn’t sure I could handle it,” Reiser said. “Dr. Beidler wasn’t even my instructor, but she met with me and helped me get a handle on what I needed to do. That’s old-school teaching right there, and I needed that.”

Beidler said Reiser’s people skills will make her an effective and successful nurse practitioner. She cited Reiser’s ability to think quickly and advocate for her patients while remaining kind and respectful to all around her. In addition, Reiser’s time overseas will work in her favor, Beidler added.

“The traits that will make her a great FNP include her multicultural background and ability not to view patients from an ethnocentric perspective,” said Beidler, also the program coordinator for FNP in the Wellstar School of Nursing. “This is difficult for nurses who have never been exposed to other cultures. She is not afraid to challenge the status quo and make sure that every patient gets what they need.”

While Reiser continues to work as an ER nurse, she has a few opportunities in mind to leverage her new skills. Whether it’s as an ambulance-based advanced practice nurse or working in an office providing primary care, Reiser seeks a career where the patient comes first.

“Ultimately, I just want to be happy and serve the patient the best I can,” she said.

– Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Darnell Wilburn Jr.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.