Marsela Husic, APRN

Moana

Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss because I was given the book in elementary school, and I read it to my younger siblings every week growing up. Now, I continue that tradition by reading it to my daughter each week. To me, the book represents the idea that life’s journey is not always easy, but if you keep going and never give up, you may be amazed by all the places you'll go.

My favorite childhood toy was baby dolls.

My mom is my biggest inspiration. After the war in Bosnia, she immigrated to the United States without knowing English or even knowing exactly where life would take her. She had me when she was only 16 years old, but she never gave up on her dreams. I had the honor of walking the stage with her at her high school graduation and watching her continue to pursue higher education while working two jobs and raising four children.

Even though her plate was always full, she never failed to show up for me and my siblings. Today, she works as a teacher in Duval County, where she continues to make a positive impact on the younger generation, just as she did on me and my siblings. She is the definition of resilience, determination, and inspiration.

I love going to the beach to collect seashells with my daughter. I enjoy trips to Disney World to see all the Disney Princesses. I enjoy having dinner with my family every night and cooking.

I have always known that I wanted to work with children. As the oldest sibling and oldest female cousin in my family, I naturally took on a caregiving role from a young age. Coming from an immigrant family, both of my parents worked incredibly hard to provide us with the life we had, and with that came sacrifice. I often stepped in to help care for my younger siblings and cousins by assisting with homework, preparing meals, helping with baths, and getting everyone ready for bed. While many may have seen those responsibilities as difficult, I genuinely loved caring for others. Those experiences showed me early on that I was meant to work in a nurturing role and someday become a mother myself.
During my teenage years, my father was hospitalized for long periods of time after a motor vehicle accident that nearly took his life. My siblings and I spent countless hours at the hospital beside my mother, and it was there that I witnessed the incredible impact nurses can have on both patients and families. I still remember nurses bringing us coloring sheets and crayons, turning on the Disney Channel to keep us distracted, and showing us kindness during one of the hardest times in our lives. Those moments may have seemed small, but they meant everything to us. Through those experiences, I realized that I wanted to become a nurse — not only to care for patients, but to provide comfort, compassion, and hope to families during difficult moments.
I want to be the person who brings positivity on someone’s hardest day, the calm and reassuring voice during uncertain moments, and the compassionate caregiver patients and families can lean on when they need support most. While working as a nurse in the NICU, I experienced firsthand how meaningful that role can be. One mother once told me that I inspired her to pursue nursing school and work in the NICU herself. Three years later, she became an RN. Moments like that reminded me why I chose this profession.
During my time in the NICU, I served as a primary nurse for more than ten patients, caring for them from the day they were born through discharge. I had the privilege of witnessing their strength, resilience, and growth throughout their journeys. To this day, I still keep in touch with several of those families, many of whom have told me that I was the calm, positive, and encouraging presence they needed during such an emotional time in their lives.

What sets me apart is my ability to connect with patients and families through compassion, empathy, and genuine understanding. My experiences growing up in a hardworking immigrant family and helping care for my younger siblings and cousins from a young age taught me the importance of patience, responsibility, and nurturing others. Those qualities naturally carried into my nursing career and shaped the way I care for patients and families today.
I also bring a unique perspective as someone who has experienced healthcare from both sides — not only as a nurse, but also as a family member of a critically ill patient. During my father’s long hospitalization after a severe motor vehicle accident, I saw firsthand how meaningful small acts of kindness from nurses could be during difficult times. That experience taught me that building rapport goes beyond providing medical care; it is about making families feel supported, heard, and cared for during vulnerable moments.
In my nursing career, especially while working in the NICU, I built strong relationships with families by being calm, approachable, and consistent. I prioritize communication, emotional support, and creating a safe environment where families feel comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns. I understand that parents are placing their trust in me during some of the most emotional and uncertain moments of their lives, and I strive to make them feel included and reassured every step of the way. I believe my ability to combine clinical skill with compassion, positivity, and emotional support is what truly allows me to make a lasting impact on patients and their families.