Cody’s Path to St. Joe’s
The legacy of St. Joesph’s University, New York is often times a familial one, passed down from parent to child or from sibling to sibling. This was the case for nursing major and Class of 2026 graduate Cody Bruen ’26.
“I heard great things about the campus from my brother, who attended for his bachelor’s and master’s. I remember getting my acceptance letter on the way home from a day out with friends,” Bruen recalls.
Growing up in Centereach — only 20 minutes from the University’s Patchogue campus — Bruen spent his high school years concentrating on his studies and caring for his brother. These two priorities would serve him greatly during his time at St. Joseph’s.
Once he was on campus, the path forward became clear: earn a degree and become a registered nurse.
“The goal currently is to find my way into an RN position on Long Island and then let fate and opportunities guide my path. I would love to get my master’s in nursing education, but I don’t have a hard-set date on when I want to start that chapter,” he continued.
Looking Back on St. Joseph’s Mentorship
Over the last four years, Bruen has been pleased to witness all that a career in nursing can offer. By working rotations at Catholic Health, Northwell and other hospital systems on Long Island, Bruen has been allowed to explore his interests and is now looking forward to what awaits him in the professional world.
That said, none of it would have been possible without SJNY’s faculty and staff.
“Every single member of the nursing department wants their students to succeed, and it’s evident in how they run their program,” Bruen said.
He continued, “I also want to shout out the Tutoring and Academic Center. Kathleen Blumenthal, Amanda Sanford, Alyssa Pisano and Kayla Elberfeld have been amazing supervisors to work with over the years. I will forever be grateful for their kindness and support.”
Core Memories
And although he was focused on his future career in health care, Bruen’s time at SJNY wasn’t just spent in classrooms and nursing labs. As president of the BSN/Nursing Club, he was responsible for hosting a multitude of events.
“I think my fondest memories are the biggest events we hosted, such as our Narcan Clinics, our BSN Panel and our Breast Cancer Awareness event. With well over fifty students at each, it was a beautiful sight to see different cohorts learning and mingling together,” Bruen said.
In addition to his nursing studies and obligations, Bruen also minored in psychology.
Cody’s Inspiration
Now, as he prepares to take his greatest leap forward, Bruen thinks about his journey at SJNY and who has become his biggest inspiration: himself.
“I think the big thing with St. Joseph’s was how I learned how I can inspire myself with my own abilities,” Bruen said.
One thing is for sure: With his confidence, determination and skill, his success at SJNY is only a precursor to what is shaping up to be exceptional career in health care.
Advice to Students
“Don’t be afraid of failure, of challenges or poor odds. Keep moving forward, and the opportunities will come, so long as you’re willing to open the door to them. I always put my best foot forward in any situation I’m in, because you never know how far you’re able to go unless you try.”
This story is part of OnCampus’ “Class of 2026 – Meet the Grads” series, focusing on the Class of 2026 at St. Joseph’s University, New York. To read more from this series, click here.
