Donna and Paul Swirczynski
Bronco Nurses are known for their strength, empathy, compassion, leadership and commitment to the profession. Throughout her life and career, Donna Marie Swirczynski embodied these qualities – and so much more.
Donna built her nursing career from a genuine passion for helping others and serving her community. Her love for the profession began in her home state of Minnesota, where she worked as a nurse’s aide.
She later moved to Wyoming, where she earned her Associate Degree in Nursing at Casper College and became a Registered Nurse. In 1985, Donna moved to Boise and continued her educational journey at Boise State University, proudly becoming a Bronco Nurse in 1993 – earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
During her remarkable career with St. Luke’s Health System, Donna served patients in a variety of roles from pediatric nurse to interim director and clinical nurse specialist as she advanced into hospital leadership.
Throughout her life, Donna never stopped learning. She continually expanded her knowledge of patient care through education, research, and professional development. Combined with her remarkable work ethic, Donna was known for her ability to translate knowledge into meaningful improvements in the clinical setting.
Donna’s research in the neonatal intensive care unit had a particularly meaningful impact. Her work helped improve the care provided to vulnerable newborns and their families, and several hospitals across the country later implemented practices informed by her findings.
Education remained deeply important to Donna throughout her life. To remember her legacy and passion for nursing, her husband of 38 years, Paul, established the Donna Marie Swirczynski Health Sciences Scholarship with a gift from her estate.
As Paul shared, this scholarship is “…a gift from Donna and [I] hope it will encourage students to choose a career in nursing. The scholarship is an opportunity for Donna to continue to contribute to the nursing profession…”
Since its creation in 2022, the scholarship has already provided nearly $10,000 in support to Boise State nursing students. As an endowed fund, it will continue to support and inspire future Bronco Nurses for generations to come.
Through this scholarship, Donna’s legacy of compassion, leadership and dedication to patient care lives on.
Thank you to Donna for the lasting impact she made, and thank you to Paul for ensuring her legacy continues to shape the future of nursing.