This nursing student story essay was selected from BrainTrack's Nursing Schools Scholarship for fall 2009. At the time of submittal this entrant was studying for a Bachelor of Nursing at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Wishes Had Known |
Program Likes/Dislikes |
Choosing Nursing
What do you wish you had known about selecting and entering your nursing school that would be helpful to others going into nursing?
There are several critical factors to consider before applying to a college and majoring in nursing, specifically pertaining to the school I am attending. One important factor that I could have done more research on is the fact that the nursing school is in a different location than the main campus. I did not visit the nursing school before applying to my college because I did not think it was too important and that I could handle the change. However, after becoming familiar with the city, campus, teaching style, and people, it will be difficult to move away from the small town where I have learned so much into a larger, more unfamiliar city.
I would also encourage other students considering nursing to research the cost of attending a certain college. Because a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is virtually the same at every school, I think it is important to choose a college that is affordable and will not require a significant amount of loans. For example, the college I chose is a private university, making the cost a lot higher than a community college that offers the same degree. However, it depends on the financial aid each individual receives; by searching out and applying for as many scholarships as possible, students like me will be able to decide on a college without worrying so much about the cost.
It is also crucial for students to decide on which type of nursing degree they want to pursue; for example, an Associate's Degree in Nursing takes less time to complete, but does not pay as well as higher educational degrees such as a Master's Degree.
Finally, I would recommend that prospective nursing students take classes in high school that can be transferred into the college of their choice. I took a few dual-credit classes in high school that enabled me to take a smaller course load each semester and therefore focus on the nursing classes more. However, I think it would have been more helpful if I had taken more of the general education classes earlier to get them over with and allow myself to begin the nursing courses sooner. Overall, it is essential to understand that a nursing school should not be a place where students take courses just to finish them; it needs to allow students to grow in education, experience, and as a person. Therefore, prospective nursing students should research many possible schools and choose the one that will help them strive to be the best nurses in the world.
What have you enjoyed most and least during your nursing degree program so far?
For the most part, I have enjoyed many aspects of my nursing degree. However, several parts have made my degree plan more difficult. Although I do see some benefit in the general education requirements at my school, I feel as though they have slowed down my progress towards a degree. For some students who may not know what direction they want to pursue, these classes would be beneficial. However, I find myself uninterested in many of these classes, wishing I could either be taking a course in the nursing degree plan or out volunteering at a place similar to where I would like to work in the future. Therefore, because most of these general requirements must be fulfilled before applying to nursing school, I feel as though they force me to study subjects that I will not be using in my future career.
However, I have truly enjoyed the classes in my nursing degree plan the most so far; I have learned so much from classes such as Anatomy and Physiology as well as others like Psychology and Sociology. I often do extra outside research pertaining to topics in these classes because I find the material so intriguing. I have also enjoyed meeting other nursing students and engaging in topics regarding our future profession. The professors have also been an important part of my learning ability; I love being able to sit and talk with them and know that they truly care about me and my future. I feel as though my experience in my nursing degree plan so far has been very positive and beneficial in preparing me for my future career.
What led you to choose nursing as a career path?
As I thought about all of the possible occupations available, the only one that seemed like a perfect fit for me was nursing. My personal experience as well as my knowledge of the career is what made me want to pursue a future in this prestigious field. Helping people has always been something I have loved to do; with two younger sisters, I have had plenty of practice assisting them with many types of problems. As I grew older, my want to help others in need began to expand as I volunteered at nursing homes, shelters, and other places where I could be of service to others. However, it was the work I did at a nursing home that made me realize how I could use my caring and nurturing personality to influence the lives of others.
My grandmother has been in a nursing home for over ten years and watching how the nurses took the time to care for each patient inspired me. Just being around those who cared for them made each individual light up, and it made me want to bring that same joy to others. There is just something about being able to improve someone's day that makes me happy. Knowing that making people feel better every day is what nursing is all about makes me attracted to the profession. Besides enjoying my lifelong career, the challenging aspect of nursing is also important to me. I love to learn and by having a job that pushes me to learn more and be better, I can continue to grow as a person. Another reason why nursing is my top career choice is because I can fill a need in the world today. Because there is a shortage of nurses, I feel as though I can step up and be a leader so that others will follow into this crucial profession.
There are so many opportunities for nurses today including a variety of settings, specialties, and roles, as well as flexible shifts; this diversity would allow me to find the place where my talents and gifts could be used to the highest extent. The ability to work with real people and make a positive difference in lives around the world is something that I am interested in; nursing is the perfect career for me because it is a special job that I can look forward to everyday.
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