UNLV Nurse Graduate Shares Her Years-Long Journey
From May 6 to 12, Nurse Appreciation Week celebrated the hard work, care, and compassion embodied by millions of nurses around the world. Nurses deserve appreciation for dedicating their lives to caring for their patients. Becoming a nurse is no easy task either, as acquiring a nursing license requires years of schooling and testing.
This week, I talked with Monica Valdez, a 21-year-old UNLV student preparing to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She reminisced on the life experiences that brought her to this point and her plans for the future.
A Passion for Nursing
Monica says she developed a passion for nursing as a young girl. She attributes her instinct to help others to her role as a big sister. When Monica was 12 years old, a health experience solidified her decision.
“My nurses became some of my greatest supporters during that time as they made scary times a little less frightening,” Monica said. “After this experience, I made my career choice to become a nurse. I want to help others navigate their health experiences the same way my nurses helped me.”
Monica continued to work hard during primary and middle school and decided to pursue her nursing education in high school. Her high school offered a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program designed to prepare future medical students for college. The program taught medical terminology, basic patient care, common diseases and illnesses, and human anatomy. Students could also volunteer at a nursing home to provide care and company for seniors.
“The role of a CNA, nurse, or healthcare worker goes beyond what most people may think,” Monica said. “Our job is to be there for our patients and residents; they [will] become our priority when we step into this role.”
Unfortunately, Monica never finished her CNA certification due to the COVID-19 lockdown, which abruptly ended her course. Regardless, Monica graduated high school in 2020 and didn’t let this roadblock discourage her. She felt the CNA program provided her with the knowledge and drive to continue her nursing career.
Monica’s Experience with UNLV’s Nursing Program
Monica said she considered other colleges, including UCLA, but decided to stay in-state and applied for UNLV. Financially, UNLV was the better choice, and Monica completed her first year almost entirely online.
Her first two years at UNLV required her to take several prerequisite courses before she could officially apply for the UNLV nursing program. All students seeking to enter the program must take the HESI exam and score 75% or above to apply for the program. Because of the large number of students who apply each semester, UNLV only accepts a limited number of students. Therefore, students must exceed the passing number and aim to score 90% or higher to enter the program.
“I had to retake the HESI as my first score was 86% and this was not high enough to be accepted into the program,” Monica said. “I scored a 98% on my second attempt and was accepted to start in Spring 2023.”
This difficult process highlights the highly competitive nature of nursing. With assignments, clinicals, exams, and other requirements, students often find themselves overwhelmed by the workload.
Upon entering the program, Monica dedicated an entire year of her life to keeping up with her new responsibilities. She spent less time with family and friends and followed a strict schedule to study and prepare for clinicals. “I quite literally lived either in the hospital or UNLV’s Lied Library,” Monica said.
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Dealing With the Struggle as a Student
Monica details that although the work was a lot, her struggle was more internalized. “It was hard to meet expectations I had set on myself and not compare my progress to others,” she stated. “The expectations of UNLV were high as well, but I was a tougher critic of myself than anyone else could be.”
Monica says her first instructor, Kristie, helped her through these difficult times since her first semester.
“Not only was Kristie my first instructor, she was someone I turned to whenever I had any doubts,” Monica said. “She’d always encourage me and remind me that learning isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”
Monica’s Future Plans and Advice to New UNLV Students
Monica’s lifelong dream of becoming a nurse is now coming to fruition because of her unrelenting spirit. With her last courses ending, Monica now prepares for her graduation ceremony on May 11, 2024.
Monica says she will now need to pass the NCLEX to become an officially licensed nurse. The national standardized test is required for all entry-level nurses and evaluates nurses’ abilities and critical thinking skills.
“I’m not sure yet what kind of nurse I want to be, but I’m gravitating towards the PICU or NICU,” Monica said. “I hope to continue learning and growing not only for myself but also to be the best nurse for my patients.”
Monica leaves UNLV fulfilled and excited to start a new chapter in her life. She leaves a few words of advice for future nursing students.
“For anyone considering the UNLV nursing program, go into it knowing that it’s not going to be easy,” she said. “There’s going to be days when you doubt yourself, but know that this will pass. You are not alone in this journey as you have your classmates and instructors to turn to for help.”
#GetinMotion with Nurse Appreciation Week
Monica resembles just one of the millions of nurses worldwide who devote themselves to caring for those in need. Without nurses, patients wouldn’t receive sufficient physical or emotional assistance. Their presence is instrumental to the healthcare world and dates back centuries.
Be sure to acknowledge local nurses with a nice gesture, like a note or gift. Nursingworld.org also created its Thank a Nurse fund to provide resources, including mental health support, new care solutions, and health equity initiatives. For May, the Park Family Charitable Foundation will match every dollar donated up to $10,000.
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