"Caring Is What Nurses Do": How an Aggie Professional Is Building on the Legacy Gifted to Her

After obtaining degrees elsewhere, LaPaglia set out to officially become an Aggie and further her larger dream of serving others. Inspired by her grandfather, who was a college professor in New Mexico, LaPaglia embraced the challenge of advancing her career. “He always believed in the importance of education,” she explained. “I really wanted to feel like I was living up to my potential and purpose.”

LaPaglia completed her master’s degree at Lamar University and sought to obtain her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a degree focused on project leadership and the practical application of research within the nursing profession. Although Texas A&M didn’t yet have a DNP program, she held onto hope and was ecstatic when one became available. “I actually watched the website at midnight waiting for the application to open,” she recalled.

With two kids, a full-time job and her husband attending graduate school at Texas A&M, LaPaglia was concerned about the financial burden of going back to college. This weight was lifted when she was selected as the 2024-2025 recipient of the Ruth M. Neely Memorial Nursing Fellowship, a gift created by the late William “Bill” Neely ’52 in honor of his beloved wife and her nursing career. “Receiving this fellowship was tremendous,” LaPaglia shared. “It reduced my financial burden and set me up to have more opportunities in my future.”

During her program, LaPaglia found many outlets for growth and service. One was an applied research project implementing virtual nursing monitors at the St. Joseph Hospital facility in Bryan.

“Every inpatient hospital bed was equipped with a touchscreen monitor,” she said. “We brought in virtual nurses who partnered with the bedside nurse to do things that require the mind but not necessarily the hands of a nurse.” The results were that bedside nurses could do their work more efficiently, retired nurses and those who had to leave the profession found fulfillment working remotely, and patients could receive immediate assistance. Additionally, individuals with language barriers could have live video call interpretation.

“Enhancing health care in our community has been an amazing experience,” LaPaglia said. “I know that anyone who comes to my facility will receive the absolute best care, partially because of the skills and knowledge I obtained in the DNP program.”

LaPaglia also found ways to serve through mentoring undergraduate nursing students, a passion she continues to enjoy today. “Interns work with me several times a year, giving me the chance to use my experiences to help others understand their career options.”

It’s certain LaPaglia will never forget Neely’s generosity that shaped her own career path. “If I could meet him today, I would give him a big hug and tell him thank you,” she said. “I’m so humbled to have been selected as a recipient of his memorial gift for his wife, and my goal is to make both of them proud by doing great things with it.”