A Career in Nursing with a Crowning Achievement
Brianna Vega, RN, has added a sash to her wardrobe – but don’t expect to see it over her nurse’s scrubs. Vega, a nurse with Brown Health Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology, was recently crowned Miss Rhode Island USA 2025.
“The sash may get in the way while performing fetal monitoring,” she jokes, “but I'll be sure to come by with it and the crown one day so everyone in the office can try them on for size.”
Vega’s nursing career is in its sixth year, four of which have been with Brown University Health. There is no mistaking the motivation and can-do attitude that has launched what she references as her “why.”
“The first time I competed for this pageant was at the age of 17,” she recalls. “After 11 years, and five attempts of competing, my dream of becoming Miss Rhode Island USA came true.
Her career choice was planted early. She felt its tug as a young girl when her father was navigating a new diagnosis filled with many hospital admissions, procedures, and rehabilitation. “I saw first-hand how impactful and transformative nurses are at the bedside,” she says. “I knew very early on I wanted a career that fueled the curiosity I have for learning but also allowed me to lead a career based on kindness and empathy. This is why I felt nursing was the perfect fit for me.” She went on to pursue a bachelor of science degree in nursing, becoming her family’s first-generation college graduate and its first nurse.
That determination is further fueled by a sense of purpose. Proud to represent her Dominican/Puerto Rican heritage as Miss Rhode Island USA, Vega is even more passionate about paying it forward to young people and enhancing care for women. She credits the female mentors that have had a positive influence on her life and career.
Prior to joining Brown Health, she worked with Women & Infants Hospital Progressive Care, where she cultivated a passion for women’s health and advocacy. “I had the opportunity to care for women navigating some of the best days of their lives, and in the same breath some of the most difficult times of their life. What they each have in common is a deep desire to connect with their providers, to feel safe, and understood. As a nurse I feel privileged to create spaces where women can learn more about their bodies and feel confident in the care they are receiving.”
Jennifer Pickering, director of physician practice, Brown Health Medical Group Obstetrics/Gynecology, verifies Vega’s bedside manner. “Her enthusiasm and commitment for delivering positive patient outcomes tends to rub off on patients and her fellow colleagues,” she says. “She is seen as an advocate and a cheerleader for our patients.”
In addition to her full-time job, Vega is a personal trainer and volunteer with Big Sisters of Rhode Island.
