Why did you choose to pursue nursing, or how did you know you wanted to be a nurse?
My mom is a nurse, and that really influenced me because I got to see firsthand how she combined her compassion and her brilliance.
That showed me that nursing has something unique where you can combine your knowledge with your empathy for others.
Why did you choose the School of Nursing at UW–Madison?
I chose the UW–Madison School of Nursing because I really admired that a lot of the clinicals would be at the University Hospital. University Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the nation, and having clinicals there offers a cool opportunity to learn in an atmosphere like that.
I also really enjoyed that UW–Madison is right on the lake, because that’s something unique that a lot of other schools don’t have. There’s a lot in Madison that’s for everybody.
What are you involved in or interested in outside of nursing school?
I have a lot of hobbies—all involve being outdoors. I love to hike, to go skiing, and surf. I’m from a small town in California, so we have a lot of different environments that we can utilize. Being outside really brings me a lot of joy.
Who or what has inspired you on your nursing journey?
My mom has really been a big inspiration in my nursing journey. Growing up, I got to see the impact she had on her patients.
I remember when I was a little girl, we were checking out in the grocery store, and a random stranger came up to her that she remembered my mom from years ago and gave her a great big hug because she had been so influential in her care. That was just cool to see.
What are your career aspirations? Is there a particular specifically that you’re interested in?
My favorite part of nursing school so far has been learning all about patient education, because it really shows me how I can empower my patients to take their health into their own hands.
That is the impact I want to have. I want to help people take care of themselves, so they don’t have to go to the hospital.
Right now, my clinicals are on the medical surgical unit. There’s such a diversity of patients and you see so many complicated disease processes. It’s really fascinating to apply critical thinking you learn in class to real life and see how your interventions work at the bedside.
“That is the impact I want to have. I want to help people take care of themselves, so they don’t have to go to the hospital.”
How do you see your studies and work impacting communities?
This relates back to patient education. If people know how to keep themselves healthy, understand the importance of keeping themselves healthy, and are equipped with the skills to do so, they’re going to have much better health outcomes. This helps the health care system which helps overall health outcomes. It’s just beneficial in so many ways.
How would your education and career path be different if you hadn’t received a scholarship?
I’m from out of state. When I got into nursing school here, it was a really big challenge for my family and a big decision if I was going to accept the great cost of going out of state.
When I received the scholarship, it really lessened the financial burden and made finance less of a factor in deciding if I was going to come here or not.
“Students should apply for a scholarship because nursing school is intense, and it is going to take a lot of your time. Juggling a job on top of that is just an extra stressor.”
In your opinion, why should students apply for scholarships?
Students should apply for a scholarship because nursing school is intense, and it is going to take a lot of your time. Juggling a job on top of that is just an extra stressor.
It’s really important to be able to put your effort and attention into your studies and just be able to dedicate yourself to nursing school, because it takes a lot. A scholarship will help you not think about the financial aspect of it.
What advice would you give to individuals who are interested in pursuing nursing?
I would say if you have the passion to be a nurse, follow it. It takes a lot, and it’s not an easy road to get there. There’s a lot of obstacles and a lot of discouragement that can happen along the way. But if you want to be a nurse and you have the desire, follow it. We need passionate health care workers and it’s important that people who are in nursing want to be in nursing.
I recommend going into nursing because you will learn such a diverse skill set and you will have knowledge about so many things. I have seen in clinicals how much impact you can have on your patients. You can make that hospital experience a little less scary and more comforting for your patients. It is so rewarding and special.
“Be prepared to push yourself. It’s going to take a lot. You have to be really devoted and disciplined.”
What’s a meaningful moment you’ve had in your nursing career?
In one of my clinicals, I had a patient who was really scared. They were going downhill, and my nurse preceptor and I went up to them and held their hand while they were crying.
It was so hard, but just us being there and comforting them, I could tell how much it meant to them. That was just a special moment where I could tell that I had an impact on their emotions—how they were feeling and how they were dealing with their hospital stay.
Do you have a favorite class you’ve taken so far?
My favorite class so far has been pharmacology. It is very challenging, but it’s challenging in the best way possible. You will learn so much. And the professor Britta Lothary is amazing. I was excited to go to that class because she is so engaging and it’s just an amazing learning environment. You will soak up everything and be eager to learn because of the way the class is structured.
Is there something you would tell a pre-nursing student that you wish you had known about when you first started nursing school?
Be prepared to push yourself. It’s going to take a lot. You have to be really devoted and disciplined.
You have to study a lot, come to class, be prepared, and do the readings.
For clinicals, I wake up at 4:30 in the morning. It takes a lot to get out of bed and show up every day. You will be tired. There will be days when you don’t want to do anything, but you keep pushing.
But at the same time, it is so rewarding. You can see how much you learn every day, every week. I know so much more than I did at the beginning of nursing school compared to now. It’s really cool to see.