Finding her stride: How one DNP student balances life with a passion for learning

For Elizabeth Ginsburg, RN, pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing isn’t just about advancing her career—it’s about feeding a lifelong curiosity while balancing the many roles that define her life.

A nurse, educator, parent of three and avid runner, Ginsburg has learned to approach both education and life much like a long-distance race: with preparation, joy and a clear sense of purpose.

Ginsburg’s journey into nursing began early. After graduating with a BSN in nursing, she began her career at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus and initially thought she would pursue a path as an advanced practice nurse. But her passion took a different turn when she discovered how much she enjoyed mentoring and training new nurses—an experience that ultimately led her to a career transition. 

Today, Ginsburg serves as a full-time faculty member at Lakeland Community College, where she teaches pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing and clinical courses—roles that keep her closely connected to both students and patient care.

“When I was in high school, I was considering becoming a nurse or a teacher, which feels a bit full circle now that I’m educating future nurses,” Ginsburg said. “At Cleveland Clinic, I loved training new graduates; I loved that transition-to-practice time and helping nurses go through that. That really fueled my transition into education.”

Still, Ginsburg wanted to deepen her expertise and strengthen the bridge between nursing education and clinical practice. That desire led her to the DNP program at Case Western Reserve.

“I am drawn toward this blend of clinician, nurse, researcher and educator,” she said. “Pursuing the DNP was a way to deepen my training so I could use my educator role and research to actually improve clinical practice.”

The DNP program’s flexible structure made that goal possible while maintaining her demanding schedule. With a full-time teaching job and a busy family life, the hybrid program's accommodating nature was essential.

“I needed the flexibility of at least some online courses, because I have a family and I’m also teaching full time while I’m in school,” she said. “The program had all the pieces that I needed.”

Balancing those responsibilities requires careful planning. Ginsburg manages the workload by creating focused blocks of time for research and coursework while protecting time for family, work and volunteer commitments. In addition to her roles as student and educator, Ginsburg also volunteers with the Just Run program at her children’s school, where she loves seeing the kids learn to enjoy movement and being outside.

“Scheduling time where I’m not going to be interrupted has been crucial for me to make really tangible progress in my studies,” she said. “This program has been my time that I spend on myself, so I ensure that I make space for it.”

Outside of her many other commitments, Ginsburg finds balance in another outlet just for herself: running. “I’ve been a runner for a long time,” she said. “That’s part of my balance; I work through a lot of my ideas during that time. It’s a great source of fun, creativity and decompression.”

The dedicated mentality required for distance running mirrors the mindset she brings to her academic journey. Just as runners train mile by mile, Ginsburg approaches her doctoral work with steady commitment and persistence, enjoying every step along the way. And although the program has demanded time and focus, it has also deepened her enjoyment of education—and her commitment to her own students, whom she strives to create emotionally supportive and equitable learning environments for.

“I genuinely love learning, and I recognize that same curiosity in many of my students,” she said. “I try to encourage them to take their ideas seriously and imagine themselves as change-makers, not just strong clinicians, but nurses who can influence the systems they work in for good.”

As she works toward completing her DNP project—focused on helping nursing students build communication and civility skills in clinical settings—Ginsburg continues to model the balance and dedication she hopes to inspire in her own students. Now approaching the finish line of the DNP program, she keeps moving forward—one step, one new idea and one busy day at a time.