Michelle Couture

Michelle Couture, BSN, RN, CEN, CCRN, is the 2026-2027 recipient of the American Journal of Nursing / Thelma Schorr Scholarship. Michelle is studying to become both a family and emergency nurse practitioner (FNP/ENP) through the University of South Alabama.

She began her education at Green River College as a high school student through the Running Start program, allowing her to earn her high school diploma and an associate’s degree in art. She obtained her nursing degree from Highline College and her bachelor's degree from Western Governors University.

What initially was a practical decision to become a nurse developed into a whole new framework of thinking and perspective for Michelle. After a decade of experience in healthcare and caring for others, Michelle has transformed into a strong leader in nursing and advocates for the safety of both patients and staff.

Michelle began her career in a busy Level III trauma center in Washington, where she mentored many of the nurses she trained. She supported patients and their families during some of the most stressful and painful moments of their lives. She became an experienced charge nurse and led the emergency department’s unit-based council for several years. These experiences shaped her nursing practice.

Currently, Michelle uses her expertise as a hospital resource nurse in a critical access facility. She strives for clinical excellence across all departments, empowers staff, and focuses on quality improvement and emergency preparedness. Michelle serves on a committee focused on evidence-based resuscitation and ways to improve emergency care in each unit. 

Michelle felt compelled to advance her knowledge and skillset as a future nurse practitioner so she could guide her patients through attainable health promotion and emergencies. Michelle’s calming presence and realism support her patients in their healing and understanding of their current health status.

Michelle is dual-certified as an emergency nurse and critical care nurse and is working toward a double certification as a future nurse practitioner. She has a strong interest in electrophysiology, obtained a post-master’s certificate in cardiology, and seeks to improve the heart health of patients, while ensuring they get appropriate care for abnormal findings or suggestive early warning signs of disease. She sees an opportunity to have risk-based discussions with patients, particularly women, who may have unique risk enhancers that can easily be missed. Michelle also completed elective study of lipidology through the National Lipid Association to provide a high level of clinical care in this area. In the future, she would like to influence public health education and policy that improve patient outcomes.

Receiving a scholarship through NEF is very meaningful to Michelle. Not only does the scholarship provide financial support, but it also gives purpose to Michelle’s work and academic endeavors. She is grateful for the support of her lifelong learning and plans to pay the honor forward.