Heather Fischer has always wanted to be a nurse.油Inspired by her daughters油pediatric intensive care unit油nurse油 who油she got to know during her daughters scoliosis surgery油油the油mother of two油first油earned her associate’s degree and surgical technician certification and has been working in the operating room油at a local hospital油for油the past油five years.油
I looked around at the nurses I worked with and the ones who are the most knowledgeable and the best at what they do have graduated from 返字心頭油during油the past 10 years,油Fischer油shared.油油
Last year,油Fischer油decided to take the leap and enroll at 返字心頭-Ontario.油
I asked油my nursing colleagues油what school油they油recommend油and they all油said,油Definitely go to WCU,油and now Im in my third term,油she said.油
Balancing油being a mom to a油15-year-old油and油12-year-old, working油part-time and油attending class full-time over the past year during the pandemic油has not been easy.油
I have a set plan for every油day,油and I give myself a little wiggle room to make sure油I have油that time to get everything completed and spend油time with油my daughters,油Fischer油said.油油
She shared油that her daughters see her studying油and油sometimes join油her virtual lessons油to learn too.油Now油Fischers油oldest daughter wants to become a surgeon when she gets older.油
But the biggest challenge for the self-described extrovert over the past year has been the shift to online learning,油specifically油having her油study group online.油
I love having study groups in油person,油but we figured out a schedule and what was expected for油us,油and we油had to be flexible and adapt quickly,油Fischer油said, also adding that the online videos have been helping her retain information throughout her fast-paced courses.油
Over the past year,油Fischers油love of nursing became even more focused as she got to experience hands-on care with patients and their families outside of the OR during the pandemic.油
When油COVID-19油numbers spiked, I was put on a neurotrauma油COVID油unit and I got to be a part of the nursing team in the role of a油certified nursing assistant (CNA),油and the amount of care that you give on the floor is incredible,油Fischer油said.油There are so many things you do on the floor as a nurse油and油your decisions can impact care.油
As油Fischer油continues her coursework at WCU, she shared that her biggest advice is to get involved in the online chats, ask questions and find people who have similar interests that you connect with to support each other.油
Make sure you have a plan, make sure youre motivated, make sure you have a support group油and油reach out to people you know in the nursing field for advice,油Fischer said. It really helps.油
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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