A FranU Alumna Returns to Teach with Heart

Danielle Bache’s path to teaching at FranU began at the bedside.

As a pediatric floor nurse, Bache realized the moments she loved most were spent teaching patients and mentoring nursing students. Over time, she began to see education not just as part of her role, but as her calling.

“Not only did I enjoy teaching my patients, but I also found great fulfillment in mentoring nursing students,” Bache explained. “Anyone who has experienced nursing school knows how challenging the journey can be, and I chose to dedicate my career to making that journey one of support, encouragement and growth.”

That realized led her to pursue a master’s degree in nursing education. As a FranU alumna who graduated in 2011, returning to the University that gave so much to her seemed only natural.

In 2021, Bache rejoined the FranU community as a nursing instructor.

Her favorite content to teach connects to her background in pediatrics, with a focus on growth and development across the lifespan.  

Whenever I have the opportunity to show students how to adapt their care to meet the needs of patients of different ages and backgrounds, I feel I am contributing to the wellbeing of our community, and that’s a great feeling,” Bache said.

In the classroom, Bache brings more than clinical knowledge. She brings heart. She draws on her experiences as a nurse, mother and active member of the community to mentor her students. As the mother of three young boys, Wyatt, Colt and Judson, she understands how much thoughtful, compassionate care matters for even the smallest patients.

“From teaching strategies to calm a toddler’s tantrum to ensuring an older child feels safe and secure, these lessons come alive through realistic scenarios drawn from my experiences as a mom, a nurse and an educator.”

Her commitment to caring for others was shaped by both joy and profound loss. In 2017, she and her husband lost their son, Weston, to stillbirth. In the years that followed, pregnancy and grief support became central to the work she felt called to do.

“Following our loss, my husband and I were able to raise over $10,000 for local organizations that provide support to grieving parents in our community.”

That same spirit of compassion continues to guide her service today. This spring, Bache is launching a new initiative to support children in the foster care system by filling Easter baskets with items such as hygiene products, snacks, faith-based encouragement and small toys. The goal is simple, to provide comfort and joy to children who need it.

“The Lord has used my experiences as a pediatric nurse to deeply influence this calling,” she explained.

These lived experiences influence the lessons she highlights with her students.

“I believe it is important to emphasize in the classroom that, as healthcare workers, we are called to serve our community and its unique set of needs,” she said. “This commitment extends beyond the care we provide at the bedside—it also involves recognizing disparities and raising awareness about areas where we can improve.”

Bache continued, “As patient advocates, we have a unique opportunity to partner with our patients and ensure their voices are heard. In my classroom, I encourage students to speak up, take action and advocate for those who need it most.”

Outside of the classroom, she is active in her church, caring for babies in the nursery and participating in Vacation Bible School. She enjoys cooking, interior decorating, reading and writing. Music also has a special place in her heart, as she grew up on the stage singing with a competitive choir.

A lifelong longer, Bache reminds her students that nurses are “forever learners.”

“To remain current in our practice, we must be willing to adapt to change. Attending conferences, maintaining specialty certifications, reviewing current research and networking with peers are just a few of the ways I continue to grow as an educator,” she said. “The transition from learning under faculty who once taught me to now working alongside them as colleagues has been an inspiring journey. The educators at FranU are among the best in the field, and I strive to absorb their wisdom at every opportunity.”

Her favorite course to teach is the Fundamentals of Nursing, a class she has taught since she began teaching in 2021.

“It is a unique course to instruct, as students enter with a blank canvas and a genuine eagerness to learn. Witnessing the transformation nursing students undergo during their first semester is truly amazing. Throughout the course, they acquire a wide range of new skills and experience countless “aha” and “lightbulb” moments, making fundamentals both distinctive and deeply fulfilling to teach.”

One of Bache’s favorite memories as an educator came when her first fundamentals class graduated from FranU’s Nursing program. The students gifted her a decorated parasol with their names, which still sits in her office adorned with blue and gold feathers.

My prayer is that when students leave my classroom, they leave knowing someone truly cares. The door to office #202 is always open!”

For Bache, teaching is not simply about preparing students for exams. It is about walking alongside them during one of the most demanding seasons of their lives and helping them discover the kind of nurse they are called to become. Through her teaching, service and quiet consistency, she continues to nurture not only future nurses, but the way they care for others long after they leave her classroom.