Calm Under Pressure

By the middle of the night in a Level II Trauma ICU, decisions are rarely neat or predictable.

Monitors alarm.

Families wait for answers.

Clinicians must act quickly with incomplete information.

For Nick Olsen, this environment has become familiar terrain, one where preparation, judgment, and presence matter most. Olsen, who earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in 2024 at Lawrence Technological University, works as a registered nurse in the medical-surgical neuro-trauma intensive care unit at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital. His path from baseball student-athlete to charge nurse and future certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) has been shaped by intention more than momentum.

Learning With Purpose

Olsen’s academic foundation was established early.

At Stevenson High School in Livonia, Michigan, he was a member of the National Honor Society and learned the value of sustained effort. At LTU, that mindset became more purposeful.

“I didn’t want to study just to pass a test,” Olsen said. “I wanted to truly understand the material because I knew one day someone would trust me with their life.”

That approach guided how he engaged with complex coursework and contributed to his academic success, earning him multiple honors, including the LTU Nursing Student Leadership Award and the M. Therese Jamison Academic Excellence Award.

Discipline Learned on the Field

While completing the LTU nursing program, Olsen also competed as a student-athlete on the LTU baseball team. Balancing athletics and nursing school required discipline and structure, habits that later translated directly into critical care nursing.

The demands of being a student athlete while in nursing school reinforced consistency and preparation, particularly when performing under pressure, lessons Olsen continues to rely on in the ICU.

Entering Critical Care Early

Olsen’s transition into critical care began before graduation. During his senior year, he worked as a nurse intern in the medical-surgical neuro-trauma ICU at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, gaining early exposure to high-acuity patient care.

“Working as an intern gave me the chance to build confidence while still learning alongside a registered nurse preceptor,” he says. “It made the transition to a full-time ICU nurse role much smoother.”

By the time he began working as a registered nurse in June 2024, Olsen was prepared to take on complex patient assignments and continue developing his clinical judgment.

Precision Without Losing the Person

In his current role, Olsen manages advanced responsibilities, including invasive monitoring, medication titration, mechanical ventilation, intracranial pressure monitoring, and rapid response calls.

Even in a technology-driven environment, he prioritizes communication with patients and families, particularly during moments of uncertainty.

“No matter how intense the situation is, it’s still my responsibility to be supportive and compassionate toward my patient and their family,” Olsen said.

That philosophy reflects LTU Nursing’s emphasis on “Relationship-Based Care” and continues to shape how he approaches each shift.

Growing Into Leadership

Despite being early in his career, Olsen has assumed leadership roles within the ICU as a night shift charge nurse and preceptor. These responsibilities have broadened his perspective, shifting his focus from individual patient care to unit-wide safety and support.

Leadership, for Olsen, centers on communication, teamwork, and creating an environment where nurses feel supported in high stakes situations.

Teaching What School Cannot Fully Cover

Olsen’s interest in nursing education began at LTU, where he helped implement a pathophysiology and pharmacology tutoring program. That experience later informed his role in contributing to the Henry Ford Providence ICU Nurse Intern Program.

“I remember how overwhelming ICU concepts felt as a student,” he said. “I wanted to break down complex ICU concepts in a way that’s easier for a nursing student to understand to build their confidence and make critical care less intimidating.”

By developing structured learning materials and lectures, he is helping strengthen the transition from student to ICU nurse.

Looking Ahead

“At the end of the day, the person in that bed is someone’s loved one and we owe it to our patients to show up for them.”
– Nick Olsen

Shadowing CRNAs clarified Olsen’s long-term goals and reinforced his interest in advanced practice nursing. This May, he will begin working toward his doctor of nursing practice degree in nurse anesthesia at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago.

“Through shadowing, I’ve realized that ICU nursing has provided me with so much foundational knowledge and ability that directly translates to the CRNA role,” he said. “I’ve been inspired by the calming presence of CRNAs caring for anxious patients before surgery and their intelligence in managing complex situations in the operating room. I would like to become a CRNA to utilize my critical care knowledge and strong interpersonal skills to contribute to a comfortable, safe anesthesia experience for patients in surgery and childbirth.”

As he looks ahead, Olsen remains grounded in the values that shaped his education and early career.

“At the end of the day, the person in that bed is someone’s loved one and we owe it to our patients to show up for them,” he said. “No matter where my career takes me, that is what will always guide the way I practice.”