Get to Know Angela Jensen, BSN 2026

Carved egg. A delicate shell that's sole pupose is to protect it's contents, the only line of defense against the seen and unseen forces that threaten the life inside. You can see the orbs in various formations throughout, sometimes singular, sometimes clustered in rows like an army ready to launch an attack. As I carved the egg, I was keenly aware of the tiny breaches I'd created in the defenses, allowing the invasion to begin.

Angela Jensen, a BSN student taking BHLTH 406: Infectious Disease and Art, created a gallery of 10 works of art as part of the class. The project, which focused on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), contains art in a variety of mediums including: carved eggs, quilting, watercolors, colored pencils, photography, and mixed media. Visit Angela’s project, “Looming in the Shadows.”

We are grateful for the time Angela gave us to share her story with us.

Tell us about yourself and your academic journey.

I am a 47-year-old woman who started my nursing journey at age 41. Starting a new career where I could feel my work truly mattered was important to me. At the time, I had an 18 year old son and an 11 year old daughter and I wanted to show them hard work, perseverance, and dedication. I completed my ADN at Everett Community College in 2021, and in 2025 I decided to take the next step and complete my BSN. I knew I wanted to attend UW Bothell since my ADN program because there is good partnership and the direct transfer agreement simplified the process. I also appreciated the flexibility the program offered and the various locations to choose from.

What inspired this project?

In January of 2025, I lost my son. He was 5 months shy of his 25th birthday and was battling addiction and poor mental health. Throughout my BSN journey, I allowed various assignments and projects to also be part of my grief journey. I chose to allow this project to deliver me back to art. Throughout my life, art has always been a part of me. When my son passed, I lost that part of myself for a time. Finding it again through Dr. Stefanie Iverson Cabral’s Infectious Disease and Art class was like having a bit of life breathed back into me. Creating this online gallery, which intertwined the science of disease process and the arts, allowed me to process the loss of my son and reconnect with my creative nature; it was transformative.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I am raising my son’s son and working full time as an Urgent Care RN. Since graduating in August 2026, I have achieved my board certification as an ambulatory care nurse. I will take a break from academia and focus on healing and on my beautiful and busy grandson. In time, I will return to obtain my master’s and eventually my doctorate.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

Honor yourselves by connecting with the material you study. Find your passion and make your time at University purposeful. Allow yourself to start again when you find yourself on a path that is contrary to your truest self.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I chase my three year old grandson and tend to his needs while also caring for my emotional and physical well-being. I keep my husband busy with frequent new projects and obsessions like gardening, houseplants, and redesigning our backyard. My daughter and I attend concerts and I meet up with my sister for frequent musicals and concerts. Through it all, I find ways to honor my son and let the world know he existed.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Please attend to your mental health. Don’t wear it like armor and don’t self medicate even when you think you have it under control. Always use a crosswalk and look both ways before crossing a street. Wear a helmet. Find beauty and connect with it. Cherish every moment. Don’t get caught up in what society wants you to believe important. Everything that is important can be found in those you love and who love you.

Quilting project
With various butterfly fabrics, Angela used a method called paper piecing to sew the blocks for this quilt. The butterflies are symbolic of rebirth in a new form, and the design of the quilt blocks themselves represents shattered pieces of what was once whole, coming back together in new and different ways, but “never quilt the same”. Disclaimer: The purples you see in this quilt are actually pinks and blues; however, for the continuity of this gallery, I used technology to alter the color scheme.