Just the beginning...

Hello Everyone!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Katie Tavares and I am a first year student in the Accelerated BS/MS in Nursing program at Regis College. I received my B.S. in Biology from Assumption College in 2011, and knew after graduating that I wanted to further my education. I always essentially knew that I wanted a career that involved caring for others, and it was my sister who actually recommended the Nurse Practitioner profession for me. After researching and attending a variety of graduate school programs, I knew automatically that Regis College was where I wanted to study. The small class size, experienced faculty, high NCLEX pass rate, and close location to some of the best hospitals in our nation all made my decision even easier. I can still remember receiving my acceptance letter in the mail, and jumping for joy that I had gotten into my first choice school! (Not to mention it was a GREAT reason to indulge in some celebratory chocolate cake!)

As with any new experience, the first week of classes seemed like a whirlwind of information, handouts and fear upon everyone’s faces. I just kept on reminding myself that everyone was in the same boat, and that we were going to make it out alive! The courses you will take in your first semester of the Accelerated BS program includes: Professional Nursing with Lab, Health Assessment with Lab, Clinical Pharmacology, and a clinical rotation. During these first few classes, we focused a ton on the importance of hand washing and maintaining standard precautions. I tell you, I was washing my hands after EVERYTHING I touched after learning the importance of hand hygiene in the nursing field! In the first weeks of school I also made some of the most amazing friends who came from a variety of different backgrounds and were all different ages. Making friends is super important in this program, because you will be spending a ton of time with them. They actually become like your second family!

My clinical rotation this semester is at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I was extremely excited to be placed here, because it is one of America’s best hospitals. I am in a group with three other girls observing the 10AB medical/surgical unit. Over these past few weeks, I have seen, learned, and heard some of the most amazing things. My instructor has stood by me each step of the way ensuring that I know how to properly care for my patients. It is an awesome and accomplishing feeling when you can take the skills you learn during lab and actually put them to good use during clinical! By building upon the skills you learn each week, you somehow go from hand washing and taking vital signs to administering medications in no time at all! Your professors most definitely instill the confidence in you throughout your classes to proceed with confidence during patient care. One week, I was even allowed to observe a laproscopic surgery in the operating room, and learn about the role of the operating room nurse. Working at “the Brigham” has been nothing short of a positive experience.

Thus far, I can say that this program has been extremely time demanding but also rewarding. In the beginning, I felt like I would never be able to handle all the work, and remember all the different techniques but somehow you manage to! It really comes down to time management, studying until your eyes fall out, and having a few good friends to support you during the harder times!

Until next time… SEE YA!

- Katie 

Keep an eye out for my next blog!