Major/Minor: Nursing/French and Francophone Studies
What are you most proud of from your time at SPU?
Something I’m proud of has been my ability to still do what I love while in nursing school. It can be easy to feel like nursing school is all-consuming, but engaging with my church, pursuing creative outlets, and prioritizing Sabbath days has carried me through nursing school. It's hard to say “no” to the books, but I'm proud of the big and little ways in which I was able to prioritize school while also nurturing my other interests.
What is a fun fact about you?
A fun fact is that I was waitlisted for the nursing program the first time that I applied! In my year off, I went through a discipleship school at my church, and lived in Morocco as a nanny for three months!
What are some of your career goals?
Some of my career goals include working in a trauma intensive care unit, volunteering on the Africa Mercy Ship, and living long-term overseas as a healthcare provider.
What is something you wish everyone knew about your major?
Something I wish everyone knew is that nursing is FAR more complex than it seems. Because it is an ever-changing field, there is not only SO much to learn but SO much to contribute. EVERY person brings something to the healthcare team, and it's essential to remember that you add value to the team by showing up, bringing all of your knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking. A nursing education at SPU prepares students to enter the clinical setting with the tools they need to think critically, creatively, and act compassionately.
Anything else?
A piece of advice for those still in nursing school: EXPOSURE is everything. Schedule shadow opportunities with nurses from all kinds of specialties — the more you know about an environment, the better you understand if you would be a good fit. Even if you think that you “KNOW” you won't like a particular specialty, schedule a shadow day all the same and then really try to identify WHY you didn't or don't like that unit or specialty. Knowing the “why” will help when you start to apply for jobs and can inform your next steps, careerwise! I scheduled five shadow opportunities outside of what SPU had already built into their curriculum, and those five, 12-hour shifts were some of the MOST enriching experiences. As a student, you have the time and flexibility to shadow so capitalize on that!