By Shannon Lueking
To me, nurses are heroes. They are there for patients in their most vulnerable state. They give their patients comfort and support and help them get through any challenge they are facing. The nature of this noble work made me choose this profession.
I recall two specific instances when a nurse made a difference in my life. When I was a senior in high school, I had double jaw surgery. I was scared and in pain but my nurses helped me recover. Then, my grandmother got sick; I witnessed how a hospice nurse took care of her at our house during the last weeks of her life. This truly made me realize I needed to go into nursing. The nurse didn’t just take care of my grandma; she took care of any need my family had. The impact she made on our lives made me want to impact others in that way by being a nurse.
My introduction to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College came from my mother, a graduate of the College. During a campus visit with her, I came across the newly established nursing program and met chairperson Marcia Miller, Ph.D., who told me about the program. I felt at home the second I arrived on campus. Choosing SMWC also meant I could continue my Catholic education. I knew I was in the right place.
Soon, I was enrolled in the four-year, on-campus bachelor science in nursing (BSN) program. I knew this format was right for me because I liked the hands-on learning approach. I also wanted the opportunity to build relationships with my fellow classmates and teachers. We spent most of our class time in Hulman Hall. This building houses the chemistry and biology labs as well as the nursing simulation laboratory where my fellow students and I would practice our skills on mannequins in the lab. Our clinical courses took place at partner locations including Providence Healthcare, Union Hospital, Terre Haute Regional Hospital and Hamilton Center. in Terre Haute, Indiana. This year, my senior year, we were able to set-up my last capstone experience at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis. The other senior students were placed at different locations across the state of Indiana. Thanks to this capstone experience, we were able to grow as future nurses with hands-on leadership opportunities. We also had different leadership opportunities around campus through the flu shot clinics and health and wellness checkups for faculty and staff.
When I started the nursing program, I was nervous because I came into college not knowing anyone and not knowing what to expect. Very soon all those feelings went away. The faculty and staff took me in as their own and had an open-door policy. The faculty and staff became my mentors and they were with me every step of the way. Their doors were always open and the nursing suite was like my second home.
During my time here, I’ve seen nursing evolve into the fastest growing major at SMWC. I am graduating this year with 11 students. My fellow students have become my sisters and I would do anything for them. We all came from different backgrounds but we’ve bonded through our shared experiences. I know I could never have an experience like this at any other school. Faculty and staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College want you to succeed; they follow the teaching of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin: “Love your students first then, teach them.” I truly felt this value through the nursing program.
About the Author
Shannon Lueking
Nursing Major
Class of 2018
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