Bachelor in Nursing - Concordia University (Winner)
Editors Note: This student story essay was selected as first place winner in BrainTrack's Nursing Schools Scholarship for Fall 2010. At the time of his submittal, Kimber Nelson was studying for a bachelor's degree in Nursing at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon.
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?
In most areas, getting into nursing school is very competitive. Find out how competitive the schools in your area are: what is their acceptance rate, minimum and average GPA? Find out how they evaluate candidates. Is it all based on grades? Will you have to write essays or do an interview? Do they ask for letters of recommendation, work or volunteer experience? While you are working on those good grades, look at how the rest of your life can strengthen your application. Gain experience that will make for good discussion in essays. Be an exemplary student, employee, or volunteer so teachers and supervisors can write strong letters for you. If you don't have experience in healthcare, volunteer, job shadow a nurse or get a relevant job. Don't look at these as just things to write on your application; if you focus on gaining maturity, breadth and depth as a person you will be better prepared for a nursing education and career, in addition to representing yourself well in the application process.
And don't be afraid to let your individuality show in your application. Lots of different people become great nurses and nursing instructors know this. I belong to two small cultural groups, and I openly discussed this in several of my application essays, in addition to drawing on concrete experiences I have had in my work as a medical assistant and interpreter. Stand out as authentically you.
It can help your chances to apply to several different programs. I decided to apply to seven local programs. If there aren't many in your area but you are willing to move for school, you can apply to more programs and may even find that schools are less competitive in other places. Explore schools in other states that excel in a specialty that interests you, or community colleges around your state, including in rural areas.
What I didn't know when I enthusiastically jumped into taking pre-requisite classes is that my local programs all have different required pre-requisite classes. At some schools I even needed to finish my pre-requisites before applying. Some standard classes, like anatomy and physiology, were required for all the programs, but there was a lot of variety in the other science and social science classes. Happily I didn't make any costly errors in choosing my first few classes, and then, when I realized how different each school was, I did online research, talked to advisors at each school, had my transcripts reviewed and attended information sessions. Gather this information at the beginning of your journey, even if you aren't sure about your decision to become a nurse; it will help you realistically understand your educational options and plan how to be successful reaching your goals. Some classes need to be taken in a certain order, and by planning ahead I even discovered ways I could have a class do double-duty for two requirements. In order to apply to seven schools I had to take several “extra” classes, but by doing these at affordable community colleges and sometimes online, I was able to fit them into my budget and schedule. While the extra pre-requisite classes cost money and each application has a fee, applying to seven schools was well worth it. I was accepted on my first try rather than having to wait an extra year to reapply.
While you're researching application requirements, also learn about the quality and structure of each program. What is the pass rate of their graduates on the NCLEX exam? Do they give an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in nursing? How big is the cohort and what is the faculty-to-student ratio? When do classes start and how long is the program? Is it full- or part-time? How about summer term? Do they have special opportunities like connection to a research facility or service-learning trips abroad? Where do students do clinical rotations and how many hours will you do? While there is plenty of academic learning to do in nursing school, the practical experience gained in clinicals is essential to your education and can also really contribute to your job prospects after graduation. That's why I chose the program with the highest number of clinical hours in my region. Apply to all the programs that sound like they will give you a good education. If you are like me, your ultimate goal is to be a good nurse, not be in nursing school, so apply to any school that will give you a solid education. In the end, I did get accepted to more than one school and was able to choose among programs, but I didn't want to limit myself at the beginning.
Some nursing schools are religiously affiliated and I applied to several schools whose religious background I don't share. Go ahead and look into schools whose religion is different from yours; find out what role religion plays in the actual nursing program and talk to students to decide if you would be comfortable there. Most religious schools have students from many backgrounds and it can be a rich experience to learn from classmates and teachers who have beliefs different from yours. Nurses have to be comfortable working with every sort of person, so why not get used to that with your colleagues in school!
What have you enjoyed most and least during your nursing degree program so far?
I love learning more about the body and looking in great detail at certain disease processes and medications. Our bodies are so complex, intricate and interconnected. I find it really stimulating to discover week after week how much I still have to learn about this body I've been walking around in for a few decades! In nursing school, the pace of learning is quick and each new thing I learn seems to immediately have practical application to the decision-making and hands-on care nurses provide. In my program we integrate pathophysiology, pharmacology and clinical nursing so that each week we are studying related topics in each class and clinical session, and this really helps me learn in a way that feels deeper and more relevant.
I value getting to know my instructors and having several different instructors for the classroom, lab, and clinicals. In addition to all the information they impart, they have a wealth of experience to share from their past jobs and specialties and general life experience. In everything they do they are introducing us into nursing culture and showing us how people with different personalities and talents find their place in nursing. I think teaching by example is the only way to really impart this, and as a group, they are great role models for developing the heart and mind of a nurse.
One thing that is difficult about starting nursing school is that I am so busy with school work I don't have much time to get to know my fellow classmates. I know I have a lot to learn from my classmates and am surrounded by a great group of colleagues, but there isn't time for much socializing so we are getting to know each other more slowly than we would in other situations. However, I think that after two years of struggling through similar challenges together we will get to know each other well and form some relationships.
What led you to choose nursing as a career path?
Since I was a small child I have been drawn toward social causes and supporting people in challenging times. This led me in so many rewarding directions, including starting a cafeteria recycling program in fifth grade, volunteering as an HIV peer educator through high school and organizing multicultural student events in college. For the last 9 years I have had fulfilling work as a medical assistant and Spanish interpreter in a community health clinic. These experiences confirmed for me that, above all, I need a career with the opportunity to serve others directly and drive positive social change. As an adult searching for a potential lifelong career, I knew I needed a path that would also provide long-term variety and challenge and better financial support. After years of observing and assisting nurses at work, I finally realized that nursing is that career.
My range of abilities and experience well suits me to nursing. I rapidly acquire and apply academic and practical knowledge, work hard both physically and mentally, perform under pressure, and work effectively in teams. I have the mix of skills needed to provide quality care, respond to individual needs and show genuine respect and care for all people. I have particular skill in providing compassionate care to those facing a difficult event or systemic challenges and in my job I have experience with underserved populations, particularly the uninsured, poor, and undocumented immigrants. I truly enjoy performing the hands-on roles integral to compassionate, personal care. I know the difference that accuracy, efficiency and a professional attitude make to nervous, pained, or embarrassed patients.
Creativity, resilience, and self-awareness are needed to consistently display all these qualities and skills in real healthcare environments and it will take a lot of practice before I have this level of competence as a nurse. However, I understand the demanding work and often conflicting pressures and priorities that characterize many healthcare workplaces. From experience, I know how to negotiate these daily challenges, maintain long-term personal balance, and end even the most difficult days satisfied with the care I have provided. While my main interests lie in preventive care, community health, family planning, and chronic disease management, my mind is open to the many possibilities nursing brings. I am so pleased to finally be in school and moving toward the day when I will be a working nurse.