Tribute to Women: Nicole Fant
/Nicole Fant was born and raised, and still resides, in Linden, Texas. However, she has become an honorary Texarkanan, spending countless hours working at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital–Atlanta and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System as a RN Program Manager, as well as at Texas A&M–Texarkana as a member of the nursing faculty. Passionate about research, she recently earned her PhD in Nursing Science from Texas Woman’s University.
Nicole’s path to nursing began in her childhood. “From the age of seven or eight, up until I graduated high school, I would often go with my mom, who is a nurse, to work,” she said. “I would hang out at the nurses’ station and in the lab with my grandmother.”
After high school, Nicole attended Texarkana College, where she earned her associate degree in nursing. She then pursued a bachelor’s in nursing science and a master’s in nursing administration, both at TAMU-T. For the past four years, she has served as a full-time instructor at the university where she was trained, sharing her lifelong passion with students. “I love teaching and hope to instill in my nursing students a love of service, advocacy and compassion,” she said.
Compassion is a key aspect of healthcare, which Nicole understands firsthand: her middle child, Averie, died at nine-days-old. “Having to make the decision to place her on comfort care was the hardest decision I have ever made,” she said. “Being a nurse helped me make my decision because I knew she would have no quality of life, but grieving as a mother afterwards was not something I was prepared for. Nurses grieve differently.” That grief undoubtedly informs Nicole’s nursing practice and pedagogy.
Nicole and her family live on a cattle and timber farm in Linden, Texas
Nicole is a committee member and research collaborator at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. She is also a board member of the CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital - Atlanta Foundation and serves as board secretary for the Linden-Kildare CISD School Board. She lives with her husband, Kevin Fant, and daughters Kynlee (13) and Hadlee (9) on their farm in Cass County. They attend Pinecrest Baptist Church.
FSLM asked Nicole ...
What book are you currently reading? I am currently reading Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (part of the Outlander series).
What’s your favorite local spot to spend time? I love to go eat at TLC Burgers & Fries.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? An ag teacher. Participation in FFA events instilled a love for service and leadership. I still use my ag background with my cattle and timber farm.
Susanne Tullos’ words on Nicole Fant
I have known Nicole for four years. Little did I realize the energy that this young woman possesses. It soon became apparent as she settled into teaching. She quickly set about applying for and receiving “experiential learning” designation for several of her courses. Nicole realized that this designation on students’ transcripts could give students an advantage with prospective employers. She continues to be an advocate for her students by serving on numerous nursing department and university committees, and by coordinating the MSN program. She is an exemplary nurse with a genuine interest in research. Nicole brings her passion for research into the classroom. She encourages students not only to recognize the importance of research in providing patient care but also to conduct research themselves. She has a keen ability to see the potential for research in any situation and is actively involved in writing grants to secure funding. Nicole sets high standards for her students and models this behavior in both class and clinicals. She continually strives to foster a sense of professionalism and service. Nicole recently took a group of students to Nurses Day at the Capitol in Austin. How better to demonstrate professional advocacy and service? Nicole ensures that her students understand the importance of responsibility and accountability, stressing that each patient deserves respectful, compassionate, high-quality care. She emphasizes that lives depend on the actions they will take. Nicole shares her nursing practice experience and passion for nursing and research daily as she educates future nurses.