Bachelor in Nursing - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - (Winner)
Editors Note: This nursing student story was selected as the winner of BrainTrack's Nursing Schools Scholarship for Spring 2010. At the time of her submittal, Judith Hunt was studying for a Bachelor in Nursing at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC.
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?
I am very satisfied in my nursing program. I researched it and other programs thoroughly before applying, so I feel I knew the major aspects I would have wanted to beforehand. These include the school's reputation, NCLEX pass rate, and prerequisites. However I can think of two other aspects it would be worth checking out before applying to a school, which I did not consider until after matriculation. These are the scholarship opportunities offered by the school and the availability of simulation labs.
Schools may have their scholarship information online, but I have found it often helps to make the effort to talk to someone in person to find out what is available. Also, be persistent if you are really in need of more funding. This is not to say you should choose a school based upon how many scholarships are offered, but rather, research the scholarships that are potentially offered at your school, so you will not miss out on any opportunities.
Regarding simulation labs, I am fortunate in that my school has these; life-like mannequins are posed as patients, with measurable vital signs and other symptoms. They do not match the clinical experiences, but are nonetheless great learning tools and offer interactive scenarios in which to gain experience and enhance your education.
I will also mention a little about the three aspects I noted earlier: reputation, NCLEX pass rate, and prerequisites. You may hear a school's reputation is not that important when applying for a job, given that we all must pass the NCLEX, but when you are pitted against another job seeker, and everything else is equal, reputation could be a deciding factor. The NCLEX passing rate, of course, can be a good indicator of how well the program prepares you for the exam. And, prerequisites are always nice to know as soon as possible, so you can begin completing them in order to meet anticipated application deadlines.
Finally, probably one of the best ways to get a taste of a nursing program is to get contact information for current students, and ask them about their experiences. I did not do this, but I can see how it could provide valuable information on the above-mentioned factors, as well as things like student-teacher rapport and ratios, quality of facilities, and overall satisfaction with the program.
What have you enjoyed most and least during your nursing degree program so far?
Learning practical knowledge is one aspect I have most enjoyed in my nursing program so far. This knowledge is applicable to the human body and can create positive results. Our bodies are unbelievably well-made and resilient, but learning interventions that can improve health has been empowering. With nursing, the information you learn can actually be used in your job, so you do not feel you are wasting your time, or that you will never see it again.
I also enjoy working and learning alongside my fellow classmates. I get to interact with second-degree students, like myself, and first-degree students, and both are present in different ages and include females and males. You learn so much when caring for patients together, or in discussing interesting cases. Nursing allows lots of creativity, and it is helpful to adopt practices other students have found helpful.
What I have enjoyed least is, quite frankly, my course load. I am in an accelerated program, to be completed in 14 months. While I am happy about finishing quicker, so I can begin working sooner, it would be nice to have more free time. This free time could be used to get more out of my classes, or to feel I have more balance and leisure time. Also, being in the traditional two-year program allows more time for club and organizational involvement, as well as for fitting in an externship or work program. Those are so helpful in gaining all the experience possible while still a student, so you can be more confident when on your own. Given the choice again, I would probably still choose the accelerated program. However, there are solid benefits to sticking with the two-year program, depending in your individual situation.
What led you to choose nursing as a career path?
To be a part of a profession that is gaining momentum, offers incredible variety and opportunity for advancement, and places me in a position to be of direct benefit to others are three of the main reasons I chose nursing. I am a second-degree nursing student, and in the past I have either considered or worked in the fields of education, customer service, and finance. All offer great opportunities as well, but health, physical intertwined with psychosocial, is dear to me, and so healthcare seemed the best fit. Nurses are one of the most trusted healthcare professionals and have the greatest mobility in terms of lateral and upward movement, plus an extensive educational path is not required to get started in the field, so I saw pursuing a BSN a great way to begin my career.
In my limited clinical experiences so far, I have gotten to work with various populations, from an 80 year old with shingles to a two-month old with diabetes and lots of ages in between. These patients were in hospitals, but I know soon I will have the opportunity to work in a public health clinic and maybe a school. I might get to administer vaccinations, educate on good nutrition and obesity prevention, and screen for heart disease. I have also been in a dialysis clinic and in a nursing home. I just love the myriad of options available, each one useful and needed in our society. And if I decide that working one-on-one in a patient care setting is not for me, there is always research, nursing education, and a host of other roles, some of which have yet to be created and discovered.
Perhaps I want to provide even more extensive care to my patients, in which case there are certificates and degrees I can pursue, even while working, such as becoming a nurse practitioner, or a clinical nurse specialist. Maybe I do well in high acuity settings, then flight nursing could be the role for me.
With nursing, you can go as far out, and up, as you want; the choice is yours.