"I chose United Nursing College because my cousin recommended it. She had just graduated, and she had nothing but amazing things to say about it. I'm from L.A. County, and I know a lot of people in nursing programs out there. Almost all of them had negative experiences, especially with their professors. They felt like they had to learn everything on their own. My cousin was the only person I talked to who actually loved her school. That's what convinced me to come.
What mattered most to me was the instructors. I learn best when my instructors are just as motivated as I am, and hearing my cousin rave about hers made me excited to be here. Now I see it for myself. My professors share their own nursing school experiences, including the difficult and even embarrassing moments. A lot of instructors don't want to show that they struggled, but knowing mine went through exactly what I'm going through has been really motivating.
I'm a hands-on learner, so lab and simulation have helped me the most. We have all the tools we need, and it's very interactive. In SIM lab, you're thrown in and you're the nurse. You're in charge of everything. It shows you what you know and what you don't, and then you get to watch it back and talk through your mistakes. Open lab is available all the time too, and there are always instructors there to teach us different skills.
My days are busy, but in a good way. I commute a long way, so I get to campus early to study and refresh my brain before class. Then it's lecture, then lab, and after school I usually stay nearby to study some more. On clinical days, I get there super early so I never miss anything. You're on your feet and running around all day, but I enjoy it because the day goes by so fast.
Some of my proudest moments are when a professor pulls me aside to tell me what I'm doing great and what I can work on. I actually like getting feedback after validations. Hearing that I did everything to a tee, down to spiking my bag, tells me I'm doing things the right way. Seeing my test scores reflect the time I put into studying feels great too.
The biggest surprise has been the community. You hear that nursing school can be lonely and it's hard to make friends. Not here. My cohort got close right away, and my instructors have even told us we're the closest cohort they've seen. I have a close-knit group of friends I study with all the time.
My one tip for new students is to be ready for the ups and downs. It's scary going in, and you can only hear so much until you live it. What's gotten me through the hard moments is the support from my family and my nursing friends. So talk to everyone and make as many connections as you can. Your friends and family are what will push you to do better and get you through the tough times.
Before nursing school, I was an EMT in L.A. County for two years, provided in-home ABA therapy for kids on the spectrum for about a year, and worked as a medical assistant for about four years. I can't wait to finally start working as a nurse. I'm excited to get back into the ER, and I have a love for psychology, so I'd like to explore psych nursing too.
If you're thinking about UNC, don't overthink it. Go with your gut. Every program will tell you different things, but what UNC has is great professors, a great community, and amazing support. The whole focus is on the students. They actually ask what we think and what we'd like to see change. I've had nothing but a positive experience here, and I highly recommend it."