From student to mentor, Jesus Garcia Jr. (center) turned his Chamberlain journey into a mission to uplift the next generation of nurses.
Jesus Garcia Jr., MSN ’24, BSN ’20, never imagined he would one day become the person students look to for strength, support and guidance. But today, as a DAISY Award-winning nurse educator and mentor to nursing students preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), he’s doing exactly that—paying forward the belief and compassion that once transformed his life.
Garcia’s journey with Chamberlain University began in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, which he completed in 2020. As a student, he took on roles as a peer tutor and lab assistant. In the simulation lab, something truly clicked.
“Simulation was probably where I fell in love with academia the most,” he says. “It bridged the gap between lecture learning and real-world clinical experience. It made me feel more prepared and confident. I wanted to be that person for someone else.”
Chamberlain’s SIMCARE CENTER facilities closely replicate hospital and clinical settings. It’s what many students point to as the first time they felt like a “real nurse."
From Chamberlain Student to Professor
After beginning his nursing career in oncology, Garcia couldn’t shake the pull of education. He returned to Chamberlain, this time as a simulation learning professor at the Miramar campus. There, he blended creativity, technology and compassion to create realistic learning experiences for students, helping them build critical decision-making skills and overcome one of the most common hurdles in nursing school: a lack of confidence.
“Students are often afraid to speak up or make mistakes,” he says. “Simulation gives them a safe space to grow. You can’t overstate the power of that kind of experiential learning.”
Mentorship Beyond the Classroom
Garcia has channeled that same drive to support others into mentoring more than 100 students over the years as they prepare for the NCLEX exam—a culmination of everything they’ve learned in nursing school and often one of the most daunting challenges they face.
“The biggest obstacle is anxiety. Students question whether they’re ready. My role is to help them trust their own work ethic. I always say, ‘Repetition breeds excellence.’ I teach them to analyze their performance, find their strengths and keep going. If they’ve put in the work, they can walk into that test and give it everything.”
Even in his current capacity as a visiting professor, Garcia continues to offer mentorship through volunteering after hours to teach and support students preparing for their future careers.
His dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed.
In May 2023, Garcia was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, a recognition that moved him deeply.
“To this day, it’s the most humbling experience I’ve had,” he says. “It meant the world to know that I made a positive impact. Not just on one student, but on someone who’s going to go out and impact many others.”
DAISY Foundation Co-Founder on How Adtalem Adds to Nursing Care.
A Life-Changing Chamberlain Experience
Garcia completed his Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in education (MSN-Ed) in 2024, and while he hasn’t started a doctoral program just yet, it’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.” For now, his focus is on giving back to the institution that shaped him.“
“Chamberlain changed my life. So I do everything I can to stay connected—whether it’s teaching a fundamentals course at night or mentoring students outside of class. It’s how I pay it forward.”
His work with students often extends far beyond graduation. He keeps in touch with many of them—some even attended his wedding. Others he runs into in local hospitals, now thriving professionals.
“One of the most rewarding parts of being an educator is seeing the weight lifted from a student’s shoulders when they pass a class or exam,” he says. “They ring the bell, they thank you and I always tell them, ‘You did this yourself.’”
Garcia’s message to students is simple but powerful.
“I tell them, look at me. I was in your seat. I wore those same scrubs. And I was probably more lost than you ever were. But I made it. And if I can do it, so can you.”
From nurses to physicians, see how graduates from Adtalem’s institutions are turning healthcare degrees into Degrees of Impact.
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