Meet Maria.
What made you consider nursing as a program of study?
In high school I took an anatomy class and really enjoyed learning about the human body. Then I asked my dad (who is a STAT nurse here at RUBY) if I could job shadow him and I found that I really enjoyed nursing.
Why did you choose WVU School of Nursing?
WVU was always my dream school and once I decided on nursing I knew that WVU SON was the only option for me. Also being from around the area I had only ever heard good things about the nursing program.
Could you share a positive experience from your time at the SON?
Getting the opportunity to work with many different instructors and in different fields. I always felt that my assigned clinical faculty really cared for me and wanted the best for me.
What’s one piece of advice you would give your freshman self?
Being someone who didn’t get into the program when I first applied I was sad and scared that maybe I wasn’t good enough to be a nurse. I would tell that younger scared version of myself that it is ok to be scared and along the way you will have plenty of times where you doubt yourself but listen to those around you. Your instructors and patients and your own family will be able to see how much you have grown, and they will continuously tell you how great a nurse they think you will be. Believe in yourself and never give up because you can do it!
What are your plans after graduation?
I am currently in the process of interviewing for a position here at Ruby. I plan to work here as a nurse for the foreseeable future.
How do you feel WVU prepared you for your next chapter?
WVU has given me many great opportunities. While in the university, I was able to be a member of the WVU marching band and I am currently finishing out my 5th year. The band can be very time consuming and taxing and doing this while also completing nursing school was definitely a very hard task. But together these two programs have taught me how to juggle life and fun and have brought me the most amazing experiences with the best friends I could have ever made.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am also grateful for the opportunity to go with the SON to the National Boy Scout Jamboree. It gave me the capacity to grow in my critical thinking and interprofessional communication. That experience boosted my confidence greatly.
I am grateful for all the clinical instructors that I have had throughout the program for believing in me and teaching me all that they did!