91��Ƭ��

It’s never too early to start serving the community — Alexa D’Onofrio ‘27 is proof of this.   

Now in her second year as a nursing student at 91��Ƭ��, D’Onofrio is experienced in emergency response, having served as a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) in her Connecticut hometown. She’s expanding that experience on campus through her nursing clinicals and as the newest member of the Durham Fire Department’s call force.  

D’Onofrio hopes that her passion for firefighting and nursing will help her accomplish her dream of becoming a flight nurse — providing critical care to patients during air transport.   

“It’s a profession that combines nursing and emergency medicine while responding to some very traumatic scenes by helicopter,” D’Onofrio says. “I’m very comfortable at emergency scenes.”   

D'Onofrio at a fire scene in Connecticut.

Getting an Early Career Jump  

D’Onofrio knew in high school that she wanted to pursue nursing, so she enrolled in an Introduction to Emergency Medicine course and became certified as an EMT. That experience led her to join the volunteer fire department in Andover, Connecticut, at just 16, where she responded to vehicle accidents, geriatric falls and pediatric emergencies.  

At the same time, she trained as a firefighter, attending the Connecticut Fire Academy every other weekend during her senior year. After earning her Firefighter I certification, she transitioned into a paid firefighter role at the Hebron Fire Department while continuing to volunteer in Andover. She remains active in both roles over summer breaks.

As a certified firefighter in Connecticut, D’Onofrio can respond to major incidents, operate hoses at large fires and enter burning buildings. One of her first significant fire responses came over Thanksgiving break during her senior year.  

“That’s when I knew — this is what I want to do,” D’Onofrio says. "People don’t always realize how much goes into a fire scene. It’s not just spraying water on flames — it’s about strategy, coordination and making sure everyone is in the right place. Different departments come together, and there’s a whole system behind it, especially with mutual aid. For that fire, we had four or five departments working together. There were incident managers, safety officers and many moving parts — overhaul, containment and ensuring the fire was fully extinguished. It’s a lot to manage, but the adrenaline rush is incredible."   

Life as a Nursing Student at 91��Ƭ��   

D’Onofrio didn’t want to leave firefighting behind when she moved to Durham for school. She started attending meetings of the Durham Fire Department’s call force during her freshman year but wasn’t allowed to begin her probationary period as an active member until sophomore year. 

The short pause gave her time to adjust to campus life. She says she was drawn to 91��Ƭ�� for its nationally ranked nursing program, state-of-the-art simulation lab and safe campus. 

“I think the simulation labs are just incredible. The technology behind the mannequins is amazing — they can blink, respond and simulate real medical conditions,” D’Onofrio says. “It’s impressive to see how lifelike they are in terms of functionality. It makes for such a great hands-on learning experience."   

D’Onofrio says what she loves most about nursing are the many ways and settings in which it provides care to people. For example, in her recent clinical rotations, she worked closely with elderly patients in a long-term care setting and is preparing to move into a rehabilitation setting.   

“One of the reasons I chose nursing is because it’s so broad. If I want to move on from flight nursing, I can go into maternity or pediatrics. I can go into psychiatric nursing — really anything I want, as long as I complete that specialty.”  

Firefighting in Durham   

Even with a busy class schedule and tutoring students, D’Onofrio is eager to start working shifts for the Durham Fire Department. Her probationary period includes working 1-2 shifts per week while shadowing full-time firefighters to learn the department’s protocols and equipment.  

Once active, D’Onofrio can respond to calls when extra help is requested for significant incidents or sign up for special event coverage — including supporting sporting and specialty events at 91��Ƭ��.   

“It’s a great opportunity to get to know the Durham community better. It’s a larger community with a younger age range than back home,” D’Onofrio says. “I’m looking forward to working at some special events. 

Future Career Goals  

Ideally, D’Onofrio hopes to continue firefighting part-time while working as a flight nurse, but she remains open to different opportunities. No matter where her career takes her, she says firefighting has been a rewarding experience. She encourages other students — whether already certified or considering training — to get involved, noting that the department enjoys working with students and is flexible with their schedules.  

“I’ve enjoyed serving my community back home and it’s nice how people become familiar with your face,” she says. “I get to meet so many people and hear different stories. It makes you have empathy for so many different situations. You encounter some people having the worst day of their lives, and they still have positive attitudes.”  

Check out a day in Alexa's life