By Hunter Carter
Just four years after completing his undergraduate nursing degree, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) student Frederick Richardson, BSN, RN, is accomplishing milestones expected of mid-career professionals. He was named Madison Hospital’s Nurse of the Year in 2018 and elected Vice President of the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA) in 2019, all while pursuing his master’s degree in Nursing Health Systems Leadership at the UAB School of Nursing.
“All the accolades are humbling,” said Richardson. “I’ve been given the opportunity to help other people as a profession and my goal is to make the most of that opportunity and pass on my knowledge and resources to other nurses.”
After graduating earning his BSN 2017, Richardson accepted an RN position in Madison Hospital’s Emergency Department in Madison, Alabama. His constructive thinking and leadership qualities in dire situations, as well as an attitude of continuous improvement led his Nurse of the Year recognition.
“It wasn’t that I was the best ER nurse—because I’m not—but my desire to continue learning and my ability to be relatable and kind to my coworkers. That is what set me apart and has helped me succeed in my profession and outside of it,” Richardson said.
Richardson also ran for Vice President of ASNA to become a leader and reach out to other nursing professionals around Alabama. He was elected to the role in 2019, and said this role is an honor.
“It allows me to do what I do best and that is to help people,” said Richardson. “My primary role within ASNA is increasing membership within the organization, helping nurses with mentors and the mentorship program and ultimately helping nurses see the value of being with other experienced nurses and make the most of their career.”
Richardson said a big part of him coming to UAB School of Nursing to pursue his MSN was that UAB had one of the highest-ranked Health Administration programs in the country.
“Having a program that was ranked third in the nation in my backyard was huge,” said Richardson.
Though Richardson looked at other master programs at other universities across the nation, it was a familiar face that would help bring him to UAB.
“While I was an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH), I was approached by Dr. Martha Dawson from the UAB School of Nursing who simply asked me to look into the Nursing Health Systems Leadership program at UAB,” said Richardson. “I came for a visit years later and, lo and behold, one of the first people I see is Dr. Dawson. She has since been a great mentor and her guidance has helped me stay motivated and strive to become a better leader in the field of nursing.”
Martha Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE, is an Associate Professor and two-time alumna of the UAB School of Nursing (BSN 1976, MSN 1984). She is also President of the National Black Nurses Association Inc.
Richardson is set to graduate with his MSN in 2022, and as he balances schoolwork and work, he stays busy doing what he does best—promoting the nursing profession. He works on video projects and hosts a podcast for the ASNA centered around nursing. One of his recent guests was American Nursing Association (ANA) president, Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, the first African American male to be elected to the Leadership team at ANA.
“I do have free time, but I truly enjoy the work I do, and it doesn’t feel like work when you enjoy every aspect of it,” Richardson said.