Nicole has been interested in medicine ever since she was little, finding joy in doing something as simple as patching up a cut. “Taking care of small things makes a big difference,” she stated. “Putting a band-aid on someone’s skinned knee doesn’t save a life, but it does make a difference for them!”
Her affinity for healing made nursing an easy choice, and she quickly realized nursing was the perfect fit for her.
When Nicole entered the program, however, she faced some unexpected challenges. She recalled her very first semester of nursing school and the apparent inability she had to measure blood pressure correctly. No matter what she tried, she just couldn’t seem to get the hang of it!
What gave her confidence was countless practice attempts on her husband/test subject and lots of moral support from professors who encouraged her ceaselessly. With time, she gained proficiency and learned the value of consistent effort.
When asked to summarize her nursing journey, one word Nicole used was "messy." Nursing is full of impromptu situations and unsightly scenes, but beauty can be found throughout. Nicole talked about her Capstone project in a Pediatric Psychiatric Inpatient hospital, serving children who received treatment for serious behavioral and mental difficulties.
Nicole had to manage difficult and sometimes ridiculous situations on a daily basis, and her patience wore thin at times. However, she began to foster a deep love for the children she worked with, learning to understand them and find joy in serving them. “Even though they’ve made mistakes, they still deserve care and compassion,” she said with sincerity.
Going forward, Nicole hopes to work in postpartum care helping newborn babies and their mothers during recovery. She and her husband of two years also look forward to expanding their family! Further down the road, Nicole wants to return to BYU and continue her education in the Family Nurse Practitioner graduate program.
Good luck, Nicole!