Victoria Fisher

Victoria Fisher, MSN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, is honored to be a recipient of the M. Louise Fitzpatrick Scholarship from Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF). Currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing at Villanova University's M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Victoria views this scholarship as both an investment in her future and a reminder of Villanova's and NEF’s enduring commitment to leadership, scholarship, and service.

Victoria's nursing career has been guided by a passion for understanding the complex relationship between mental health and overall well-being. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Widener University, she worked as a registered nurse in both medical-surgical and psychiatric settings before completing her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. These experiences strengthened her commitment to caring for individuals facing mental health challenges and inspired her to pursue advanced clinical practice and research.

Today, Victoria practices as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Service Center, where she provides psychiatric care for adolescents navigating significant behavioral health and social challenges. Working with this population has reinforced her belief that mental health care must be compassionate, accessible, and informed by a deep understanding of each person's lived experience. She considers it a privilege to support young people during some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives.

Alongside her clinical work, Victoria has developed a strong passion for nursing education. She has served as a clinical instructor, seminar lead, and course support at the University of Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed helping students bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice. Teaching has allowed her to contribute to the profession differently, by supporting the growth and development of future nurses and encouraging them to pursue excellence in patient care.

As a doctoral student at Villanova University, Victoria's research focuses on mental health and women's experiences of stress during the transition to motherhood. Her work seeks to better understand how women experience, internalize, and cope with stress, to inform nursing interventions that promote both mental and physical well-being. She plans to construct a theoretical model of repressed anxiety. Through her PhD studies, she hopes to contribute new knowledge that advances nursing science and improves care for women and families.

Looking ahead, Victoria plans to continue combining clinical practice, research, and teaching throughout her career. She is grateful for the support of NEF and the M. Louise Fitzpatrick Scholarship, which will help her continue developing as a nurse scientist and educator. Victoria remains committed to advancing mental health care, mentoring future nurses, and conducting research that addresses meaningful challenges faced by patients and communities.