Rylie Gill’s passion for advocating for others made her destined for a career in nursing. “I chose to major in nursing because I am intrigued by the science of the human body, and how I can use this knowledge to advocate for others and improve health care practices and policies. Additionally, nursing is an incredibly rewarding career with flexibility and job security.”

Gill, a Milwaukee native, decided to stick close to home and attend MSOE because of its reputable nursing program. She was especially intrigued by MSOE’s rigor and the tremendous number of clinical hours students experience through the nursing program. MSOE nursing clinicals provide students with immersive experiences in a variety of clinical settings that strengthen their caretaking skills.   

In addition to her clinicals, Gill gained experience through her externship last fall with Aurora Sinai in the Acute Care for the Elderly Unit. “I was under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) who oriented me to hospital policy and patient assignments,” explained Gill. “She supervised me as I cared for patients during medication administration, patient teaching, patient advocacy and collaboration with the health care team.” Gill currently works on this same unit as a certified nursing assistant (CNA).

These experiences and exposure to care are just the beginning for Gill. After graduation she plans to go to graduate school to get her Doctor of Nursing Practice. Her dream job is to become a nurse practitioner at a private practice.

She puts her advocating passion into practice throughout the multitude of student groups she participates in. She is an active member of Student Nurse Association, vice president of Nursing Honor Society, and founder and president of Right to Life, a pro-life student organization. As president of Right to Life, she organizes and participates in educational events, social events and volunteer opportunities.  

For fun, Gill loves to plan events, travel, care for her plants, play with her dogs, and spend time with her friends and family—including all 16 of her siblings! She also enjoys crocheting, a skill and hobby she learned from her grandma. She even has an Etsy shop (@Joyblanketshop) where she sells chunky knit blankets in honor of her grandmother.

Gill is especially grateful for her support system who helped her achieve academic success. “I could not have been successful at MSOE had it not been for my faith in God and my supportive family and friends.”