Bulldogs Beyond DeSales: Olivia DiMarino is Ready for Her Next Shift
As a nursing student, Olivia DiMarino, School of Nursing ’26, spent countless hours preparing for her future in healthcare. Looking back on her time at DeSales University, the most significant transition wasn't clinical. It was personal. Through leadership roles, campus involvement, and hands-on learning experiences, she discovered confidence in herself and the positive impact she could have on others.
When DiMarino arrived at DeSales, she wasn’t sure what leadership would look like in college. She loved being involved in high school but knew college would provide even more opportunities to connect. By sophomore year she joined Character U, a first-year experience program designed to help students transition into college life, where she served as both a mentor and captain. "Being involved helped me become the best version of myself," said DiMarino.
Through her campus involvement, DiMarino developed a love for event planning and helping new students connect to the community. During Orientation 2025, she was presented with a Senior Leadership Award. "You don't need a title to be a leader," she said. "You can be someone who helps others and helps things run smoothly."
The lessons DiMarino learned through involvement on campus carried into her clinical work. Through rotations in acute care, the emergency department, and intensive care units, she discovered that nursing requires many of the same skills she developed as a student leader. DiMarino credits her clinical experience with her personal and professional growth. Working alongside nurses in her senior clinical internship, particularly in a cardiac intensive care unit, she saw firsthand the realities of patient care for the career she hoped to pursue after graduation.
Along the way, DiMarino learned that helping others is rarely one-size-fits-all. "You learn that everyone needs help in different ways," she said. "You have to adapt based on the patient’s needs."
Those encounters strengthened her desire to pursue critical care nursing. DiMarino quickly learned she enjoys the fast-paced environment and teamwork you find in a hospital setting. She also enjoyed building meaningful connections with patients during some of their most vulnerable moments.
As she begins her professional career, DiMarino is grateful for the experiences that shaped her during her time at DeSales. From leadership opportunities and lifelong friendships to clinical experiences that confirmed her passion for nursing, each chapter helped prepare her for what comes next.
“Olivia has embraced and excelled in all leadership opportunities,” said Deborah L. Whittaker, EdD, MSN, RN, RNC-MNN, chair of Undergraduate Nursing Programs, and professor of Clinical Nursing. “She was consistently a positive role model for other students, and I am excited to see her continue to grow in the nursing profession,” Whittaker continued. “Her patients will benefit from the compassionate, safe, and quality care that she provides. They are in good hands with Olivia as their Registered Nurse.”
In August, DiMarino will begin a nurse residency position on a telemetry and stroke floor at Riddle Hospital with Main Line Health. Now, with graduation behind her and a new career ahead, DiMarino is ready for her next shift.