About Me.
My name is Marissa Young, and I am currently a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner–Primary Care (PNP-PC) student at the University of Colorado, pursuing my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2027. I plan to continue seamlessly into the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in Fall 2027, with a projected graduation in Fall 2028.
My nursing journey began over seven years ago, first as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for about a year and a half, and then as a Registered Nurse (RN) for the past six years. As of July 2025, I have accumulated over 35,000 hours of experience in the healthcare field. I have specialized in caring for medically fragile and technology-dependent children, both professionally and personally. As a Colorado native, wife, and mother of four, I bring a deeply rooted commitment to family-centered care and a unique understanding of the complex needs families face when navigating chronic illness, home care, and developmental challenges.
I chose to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to expand my scope of practice and lead more effectively in both clinical and advocacy roles. I am particularly passionate about pediatric primary care, care coordination, and health policy reform. My focus areas include advancing pediatric health equity, reducing barriers to care, supporting children with complex medical needs, and contributing to systems that prioritize equitable, person-centered care for individuals of all ages and backgrounds, including those living with chronic illness, older adults, low-income families, immigrants, and other historically underserved populations.
Undergraduate & Foundational Nursing Education.
2017-2019
University of Colorado
College of Nursing
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through the Traditional Pathway. This rigorous two-year program integrated 51 credits of didactic coursework with 819 total clinical hours, including 232 on-site hours with high-fidelity simulation and 530 off-site hours in pediatric, adult, and community-based healthcare settings³ . The curriculum emphasized core nursing competencies such as pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional collaboration⁴. Through this program, I developed strong clinical reasoning and communication skills, enhanced my leadership abilities, and built a solid foundation in patient safety and quality care.
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As part of my undergraduate nursing education, I participated in the Interprofessional Education and Development (IPED) course at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, a structured, two-semester program designed to foster collaboration among future healthcare professionals. This longitudinal experience brought together students from nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, physician assistant, and anesthesiologist assistant programs, with additional participation from public health students. Through team-based learning sessions and interdisciplinary casework, we developed core competencies in teamwork, ethics, communication, safety, and quality. This program emphasized the importance of interprofessional collaboration in delivering safe, effective, and patient-centered care.
2014-2017
Community College
of Aurora
Prerequisite coursework including Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, and other general education requirements. Accepted into the Integrated Nursing Pathway (INP), a competitive, collaborative program where I was able to transfer into the University of Colorado College of Nursing as part of a designated cohort after earning my Associate of General Studies degree². The INP included both traditional science prerequisites and INP-specific courses focused on nursing foundations, health equity, and transferring to the University.
Integrated Nursing Pathway (INP):
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A collaborative educational track designed to prepare students for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The program begins with two semesters of prerequisite coursework at one of three partner community colleges in the Denver area: Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, or Red Rocks Community College Arvada. Students complete foundational science and general education courses, including anatomy, physiology, microbiology, human growth and development, and ethics within a established cohort. Upon completion of these courses and the associate degree, the cohort transition together to the University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus to complete the BSN. The program combines classroom instruction, clinical practice, and simulation-based learning to support a seamless pathway into professional nursing.
References. ¹ University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Center for Interprofessional Practice & Education. (2018). Interprofessional Education and Development (IPED) course syllabus: Fall 2018 [PDF]. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. ² University of Colorado College of Nursing. (n.d.). Bachelor of Science: Integrated Nursing Pathway. CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Retrieved July 2025, from university’s official site ³ University of Colorado College of Nursing. (2017a). CU CON undergraduate clinical experiences – Summer 2017 [PDF]. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. ⁴ University of Colorado College of Nursing. (2017b). Undergraduate traditional program plan: Green – Final for students [PDF]. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.