Maddy Ancheta x’27 was inspired to pursue nursing through family role models and a passion for science, relationships, and addressing health inequities. Her weekly schedule balances classes, clinicals, labs, and simulations, supported by careful time management. Her clinical experiences have deepened her skills and sparked ideas for future career goals.
Why did you choose to pursue nursing? Or, how did you know you wanted to be a nurse?
I chose to pursue nursing for many reasons, but I was likely pushed towards the career because I grew up surrounded by exceptional nurses in my family. Besides being inspired by family members, nursing combines multiple interests of mine–science and medicine, interpersonal relationships, and battling inequities. I want to meet people where they are at and work towards a shared goal of health and well-being. It’s a fulfilling and worthwhile pursuit, and to have a career where I am constantly learning in so many regards is another appeal of the career of nursing.
What does a week in your life as a nursing student look like? How do you balance it all?
My week starts with class from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, including med-surg and our health promotion and health equity class. On Tuesday, I don’t have class or clinical but will occasionally have a simulation. On Wednesday, we have the same classes as Monday, as well as Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice, a class that runs until 5 p.m. Thursday, I have clinical from 6 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Friday is our four-hour simulation lab, where we can practice and learn new nursing skills. I try to balance it all by using my time wisely between classes, which we call programming hour, to complete assignments and homework for the week ahead. Having one day off provides an advantage to do work and assignments that are due later in the week, so I don’t have to worry about them after a long clinical day. I like to map out my week in terms of assignments, extracurricular obligations, and personal obligations in my notes app!
What has been your favorite class or unit in the nursing program so far?
So far, my favorite class has been med-surg. It has been a really challenging combination of our previous education of pharmacology, pathophysiology, physiology, and our clinical course, Foundations of Nursing Practice. It feels rewarding to put together learning from multiple courses into one and use our developing critical thinking skills to apply knowledge to case studies and real-world clinical examples. In fact, since beginning med-surg, there have been multiple instances where diagnoses we learn in class present in patients we see in clinical. It makes the interventions and management of certain diseases and health problems make sense.
Where have your clinical placements been? And what have your experiences been like?
My clinical placements have been at an assisted living facility and on UW Health’s B6/6 Inpatient Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant floor. My experience in the assisted living facility was slower paced as many residents did not need much assistance besides fall prevention and minimal assistance with activities of daily living. My experience at UW Health, however, has been full of new information. I have learned so much in the few weeks that we’ve had so far, both about the patient population of oncology and bone marrow transplant, as well as nursing skills and the typical day in the life of a bedside nurse. The nurses have been welcoming and encouraging towards us, which has facilitated a safe and productive environment for us to learn hands-on and develop skills that will aid us in our future clinicals and careers.
What are you most looking forward to in your last year at the School of Nursing?
I am most looking forward to my clinical placements in my last year. I am still unsure of what specialty or type of nurse I want to be, and clinical placements have been helpful in gaining not only experience but also seeing how different nursing positions operate. Since we can rank our preferred specialties for our last year of clinicals, I am hoping to explore specialties that interest me and get a better sense of the type of nursing I will be pursuing!
How would you describe the culture of the nursing program?
The culture of the nursing program is friendly, and conducive to making friends! Much like the overarching culture of UW–Madison, “work hard, play hard,” I feel students in the nursing program balance the challenges of nursing school and the social aspects of it well. Even in the first semester, I made many friends due to how our classes were formatted as well as how we all were in the same boat of stressful exams, check-offs, clinicals, and new experiences. I have always felt supported, especially by my peers and instructors, to succeed and simultaneously enjoy my nursing school journey.
What kinds of things are you involved in or interested in outside of nursing school?
In addition to nursing school, the Filipino American Student Organization (FASO) takes up most of my time. Within FASO, I am part of the singing group, Kumantayo, as well as the Tinikling performance group, which is a traditional Filipino dance involving sticks. I also live an active lifestyle, including activities like weightlifting, running, rock climbing, paddleboarding, hiking, and trying new things (most recently, salsa dancing!). I also am a huge foodie and love to try restaurants and new food both in and out of Madison, and I also love playing all sorts of games with my friends (card games, video games, board games, etc). I have also been a CNA for about a year and a half at UW Health on F6/6, an acute care surgical specialty unit that focuses on patients with surgeries involving urology, otolaryngology, plastics, and gynecology.
What are your career aspirations after graduation?
After graduation, I would like to stay in the Midwest for the first few years of my career while I gain a strong foundation of what it is to be a nurse and then move on to travel nursing! I would like to be a travel nurse for a few years off and on, and travel the world while I am not working under a contract. I am still deciding if I would like to go back to further my education, but I am sure I will figure it out along the way!
What advice would you give to individuals that are interested in pursuing nursing?
My advice would be to participate in activities, clubs, sports, extracurriculars, that don’t necessarily involve nursing! I think it’s easy to believe nursing is all about the clinical aspect of it, but it truly involves strong communication skills, quick thinking, resilience, and being culturally sensitive and compassionate. These things can be gained from other life experiences besides nursing-related extracurriculars. While caregiving and previous health care positions are important, don’t forget to be a real person!
What is your top bucket list item and why?
My top bucket list item is to visit all 63 national parks in the United States. I have always had an itch for the outdoors, and the United States has so much ecological diversity and beauty that I have been interested in it since I was in middle school! I am 12 parks in, with five new ones getting crossed off the list this summer, and some already being visited twice (Grand Teton, Zion, and Rocky Mountain).