Convocation Spotlight: Darien Moneta
6 June 2025
As a child, Darien Moneta was fascinated by the STARS air ambulance. Later as a teen, her work as a lifeguard, often handling emergencies, further ingrained in her the desire to work in health care. But it was her grandfather’s cancer diagnosis and treatment that clarified for her that she wanted to be a nurse. As the first in her family to attend university, making the move from a small town to Edmonton was a challenge — but frequent visits back home and the promise she made to her grandpa kept her going during the hard times.
Here she shares about her experience in nursing school and how she looks forward to working as a bilingual nurse.
What drew you to Nursing?
When my grandpa got cancer, I knew I wanted to be a nurse and made a promise to him I would graduate nursing school as he never got to finish school. Seeing how some of the nursing staff treated my grandpa started a fire in me that made me want to be the kind of nurse the patient and the family could feel comfortable around, find trust in and have someone they know will advocate for them in either French or English and be there for them during their most vulnerable and terrifying moments.
How did you stay motivated during your studies?
I stayed motivated by reminding myself why I went into this program and never losing sight of the end goal. If things got tough, I always thought of what my grandpa would do and reminded myself of the promise I made to him. I would also visit my family and my friends, who supported me endlessly throughout my program. During my clinical rotations, positive comments from my instructors, patients and staff members encouraged me to keep going.
What activities did you do outside of your studies?
I did a hybrid rural placement option for preceptorship, which taught me how to be resourceful due to limited staffing and materials and also taught me so much about being more confident and adaptive. I got to experience a little bit of everything, not just one area of nursing, and got a chance to see how I can adapt and be a leader under pressure while also learning how to problem solve and be comfortable speaking up and working with the whole health-care team. I think in the future, knowing how to adapt care with the available resources and knowledge will help me not only to be more confident, but also to stay level-headed during emergencies and be a more resourceful team player.
What advice would you give to a student considering this program?
Remember to ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help, because you are in this program to learn. You won't remember everything, which is OK; it will come with time and practice. Remember to look at the bigger picture and try to understand how it ties together, instead of simply memorizing, and it will stay. Do not give up if you are struggling or even if you fail. Trust yourself, and do not compare yourself to others in the program. Nursing is a journey to learn how to trust yourself, how to find your voice, how to ask questions, and where to look to find those answers.
What comes next for you?
I am going to work back in rural Bonnyville to support small rural communities and Francophone minorities. I hope my French can serve and comfort those who cannot speak English or are more comfortable speaking French. I also plan to get into more emergency care and, hopefully, become an air ambulance flight nurse one day.