For more than 50 years, nursing has been a defining part of one Gamecock family. 

The legacy begins with Nancy Day (‘75 ADN), a first-generation college student whose compassion for others shaped the careers of future generations in her family. Driven by a desire to care for others, Day spent more than 40 years in healthcare - starting as a nursing assistant and eventually becoming a director of nursing. 

“She saw the good in everyone,” Stephanie Studnicka (‘93 BSN) said. “My mom would try to help everyone she met.” 

Day became known for improving post-acute and long-term care practices, mentoring nurses and speaking nationally on quality improvement in nursing facilities. She also helped develop software still used today in Medicare resident assessments. 

Wanting to create a lasting impact on long-term care, Day founded New Day Professional Services in South Carolina to help care facilities improve operations and provide quality care to residents. 

“She loved being a nurse more than anything,” Stephanie said. 

Following in her mother’s footsteps

Day’s compassion inspired Stephanie, even though nursing was not originally part of her plan. Stephanie began her studies at USC as a journalism major before her grandmother became ill and was hospitalized. Watching the care her grandmother received showed Stephanie the impact nurses have on patients and their families. From that moment, Stephanie changed her major to nursing, following in her mother’s footsteps. She recalls that Day was “over the moon”. 

Reflecting on her time as a USC Nursing student, Stephanie says, “I loved it even more than I thought I would. I knew I did the right thing.” 

Upon graduation, Stephanie worked in ICU and coronary care roles at Richland Memorial, now Prisma Health Richland Hospital. While she loved the fast-paced hospital setting, the birth of her daughter, Isabelle, led her to desire a more stable schedule. 

She began working for her mom at New Day Professional Services. The professional experience she built here inspired Stephanie to step into leadership roles in long-term care and senior living. Today, she serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations for a SC nonprofit senior living organization. 

“I’m carrying my mom’s torch,” Stephanie proudly says. 

Shaped by generations of care 

Growing up around healthcare professionals, Isabelle Studnicka was drawn to health sciences and pursued a bachelor’s degree in exercise science at the College of Charleston. While she didn’t initially seek nursing, the profession was always in the back of her mind. 

One memory that stood out to Isabelle was visiting a long-term care facility where her mother worked. An employee brought in a pet pig, Petunia, for National Pig Day and the residents held a baby shower for her. Isabelle remembered how much joy the event brought residents, and it showed her that caring for patients went beyond medicine. 

During her junior year, Isabelle discovered USC’s Master’s Entry to Practice Nursing (MEPN) program and decided to enroll. She will become a third generation Gamecock nurse in her family when she graduates in summer 2026. 

“Nursing was very familiar to me,” Isabelle said. “I was inspired by the compassion I’ve seen my mom and grandma give people.” 

As Isabelle has progressed through the MEPN program, nursing has strengthened the bond she shares with her mother. “I love talking to her about my clinical shifts because she always understands,” Isabelle says. Upon graduation, Isabelle hopes to combine nursing and exercise science to work in cardiac rehabilitation. 

Though each generation found nursing in different ways, they shared the same calling: caring for others.