Meet Elizabeth.

What made you consider nursing as a program of study?

I have always loved science and learning about diseases and conditions, but I am also a huge people person! Nursing gives me the best of both worlds because I can connect with my patients while also critically thinking through their disease process. Nursing is an art that tasks your brain and your heart, so I thought it was the perfect career path for me!

Did you have an ah-ha moment about wanting to become a nurse?

I did! When I was in high school, I volunteered at my local hospital and spent a great deal of time with the nursing staff. I loved being able watch them form relationships with patients and family members, while also handling critical patient situations with such grace. I would come home from a shift excited to go back the next day to see what else I would see and learn!

Why did you choose WVU School of Nursing? 

I was extremely impressed by the STEPS Center that WVU SON utilizes and was thrilled to know that I’d have plenty of opportunities to learn skills prior to stepping foot into the hospital. I also think that having the Health Science Center be connected to Ruby Memorial is something that set WVU apart from other programs.

Could you share a positive experience from your time at the SON?

Any time I have spent in clinical with the incredible SON staff has been a positive experience! Every SON faculty member pushes you to learn and be the best version of yourself.

I was also able to do an abroad trip last year to London, England. Leading up to and during the trip, I learned so much about the foundations of healthcare and how different it looks in various countries. Mixing travel and school was something I didn’t think I’d be able to do in nursing school, so having this opportunity was incredible!

What’s one piece of advice you would give your freshman self?

I would tell my freshman self that she doesn’t have to have everything figured out so early, and to be open to change. During every class, you may think to yourself, “This is what I’m meant to do,” but that doesn’t have to be the case. Give yourself some grace and focus on taking it one day at a time!

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be working in Pittsburgh as an ER nurse in a Level 1 Trauma and Comprehensive Burn Center!

How do you feel WVU prepared you for your next chapter?

I feel so well prepared for this next chapter of my life! I think the WVU SON program has molded me into a well-rounded nurse who is comfortable in many different care settings, able to think through situations critically, and communicate effectively with different members of the healthcare team. Our program requires you to complete around 1,000 clinical hours before the time you graduate, and every single one of them has been spent getting hands on experience in a multitude of clinical areas.

Anything else you’d like to add.

The peers in your cohort are all going through the same thing, be kind and stick up for each other! Nursing school is tough, take care of yourself so you can take care of your patients!