Kiara Nuñez

Kiara Nuñez, BSN, RN, is the honored 2026-2027 recipient of the Martha Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship from Nurses Educational Funds. She is a proud Latina and Brooklynite who is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. She received her BSN from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Hunter College.

While her career has been deeply embedded in healthcare since becoming a nurse, her foundational background in sociology and deep interest in the human condition serve as an essential lens that has shaped her perspective on systemic health equity and social justice. Her motivation to enter the nursing profession is centered on the fundamental belief that healthcare and wellness are human rights that should be delivered to all with uncompromised dignity, compassion, and integrity, allowing everyone to move toward healing in a way that truly works for them. Guided by lifelong feedback that she was an exceptional listener and a natural therapist, she sought environments and opportunities that allowed her to practice both medical and psychiatric nursing. She specifically chose Hunter College’s graduate PMHNP program for its rigorous alignment with these values and its capacity to prepare advanced practice nurses to lead complex, integrated models of care right in the heart of New York City.

She has found her distinct professional niche within integrated community healthcare environments that promote unified medical and psychiatric care. For the past three years, she has dedicated her skills to the Adult Day Health Care program at Housing Works, serving vulnerable populations navigating HIV, substance use disorders, complex medical issues, and various social inequities. Early on in her career, she also received the prestigious DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. After being promoted to Nurse Manager, she collaboratively leads a vibrant, multidisciplinary team of nurses, clinical social workers, nutritionists, and support staff, ensuring that patient needs are met holistically rather than in clinical silos.

A testament to her belief in integrated care, Kiara is also a Cabrini-Hunter Fellow and earned a certificate in Interprofessional Education Collaborative. As a PMHNP student, she hopes to bridge the gap between primary care and psychiatric care. Her future goals include leading equity-focused mental health models in community settings, minimizing healthcare fragmentation, increasing access to care, and expanding her influence through clinical education and mentorship to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders.

Receiving the Martha Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship represents a milestone of personal and professional significance for Kiara. This award significantly alleviates the financial constraints associated with advanced graduate studies and invests in her dedication to cultivating holistic, just, and human-centered healthcare environments.