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A: For my upperclassman interview I spoke with Nina Dluzynski, a graduating senior in the Ohio State Bachelors of Nursing program. I began the interview by asking Nina why she chose nursing as a major. She stated that she had always wanted to help people, and she had always been drawn to the medical field. “I knew I didn’t want to be a doctor,” she said. “I wanted more of the treating aspect of medicine than the diagnosing aspect, so that’s why I chose nursing.”

I then asked Nina what some of her hardest classes were in the nursing program at OSU. She said physiology was the most difficult her freshman year and Pharmacology was the most difficult overall, but she learned the most information in these classes. Nina said that the competition to get into the Nursing major scared at first too, but that it helps to find the best nursing students possible, and that if you work hard and write good application essays that it is not impossible to be accepted.

I questioned Nina on what to do to prepare for the real nursing world once I get into the program. First, she told me to always put my classes first and to take really good notes because I will need to remember the information not just for the next exam, but for my future career as well. Nina also said to question everyone I know about any medications they are on or illnesses they have. “It will help you apply what you are learning to real life medicine,” she stated.

Nina also advised me to apply for a job as a Patient Care Associate (PCA) at one of the local hospitals in the field of medicine that I am interested in. She told me that it will not only help me learn more about nursing in general, but that if I am a hard worker my manager will help me find a nursing career in that department once I graduate and pass my NCLEX exam. For example, Nina worked as a PCA at Nationwide Children’s Hospital while in college, and has recently been hired to begin work as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse there following graduation.

Nina’s biggest advice to me as an underclassmen is to make time for myself. “You can’t be a good nurse if you aren’t happy,” she told me. “Find something you like to do whether that is running, reading, or volunteering. Whatever it takes to keep yourself happy while in the program, do it.”

For this year’s Professional Interview, I interviewed Nina again, who is now a PICU RN at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. My first question for Nina was ” What advice do you have for me course-wise as I go into my junior and senior year?” Se replied with “Make strong connections with faculty, professors, clinical instructors. They will be the ones you ask to write recommendation letters and you want them to know you well!”

I also asked Nina, “Do you recommend picking up a minor? I am thinking about possibly HDFS since I am interested in pediatrics.” She stated that “You can! Honestly it won’t make or break an application but it would be fun to have! If you are not in the nursing honors program, you will have a lot of extra free time your junior/senior year so scheduling for a minor shouldn’t be too difficult. Honestly, the work load for nursing school is heavy at the beginning (sophomore year- you got this!) and then tapers down by senior year. I honestly wished I did a foreign language minor but I didn’t because of my honors thesis. If you can- do it!”

Another question I had for her was “What advice do you have preparing for the NCLEX?” Nina said “You’re so proactive! Maybe for your position, save your “most important” notes. This way you can look back at them when you need a refresher when you begin to study senior year. Taking as many practice NCLEX questions through ATI or another source is my biggest piece of advice. I got all 275 questions (yay me) but I got through it because the question-style is something you have to get used to. Hope that makes sense! We can def talk more in detail in a year!”

I ended my interview with Nina with the question, “What should I keep in mind as I begin to apply for RN positions?” She said that “Apply everywhere! Be open to jobs. Not because you need to settle but to have options! Find out from current employees that work there how the UNIT CULTURE IS. That is CRUCIAL to your first year as a nurse. You want to feel supported and be among people with similar personalities so those 12-14 hour days are bearable. Also-if you can, try to find someone that currently works on that unit so they can put in a good word for the manager. P.S. I did that for Lindsey Welch and now she’s going to be working with me!”

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S:  Over the past two semesters, I enjoyed volunteering with two organizations: Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State’s club, NSPIRE. Through Nationwide Children’s Hospital, I worked in their Reach Out and Read program since October, 2016. This involved me going to the Linden Primary Care Clinic for a few hours a day, several times a month, where I would read to the children in the waiting room and engage with them in literary activities. I would also encourage each family to take a book home with them in order to promote family literacy at home too. The other organization that I volunteered with, since September, NSPIRE, is Ohio State’s Nursing Club. Through this organization, I volunteered at the YWCA where we taught safe sleep clinics to mothers, and I volunteered at Saint Sophia’s Church where we held free clinics and foot baths for the Columbus homeless population.

It was volunteering at these Saint Sophia’s clinics that were most memorable for me. As a member of this club, I have not only learned valuable clinical skills, but I have also discovered a priceless lesson about people. NSPIRE works with the homeless population in Columbus – a community that is quick to be judged and condemned for their situation. We check their vitals, care for their feet, and listen to their thoughts and ideas. Helping these individuals improve their health has been wonderful, but the conversations I have had with these people are what have truly been eye-opening for me. Each person I have worked with has a fascinating story to tell. Yet, when society looks at the homeless population, they often overlook the identities and backgrounds of the people who need their help. Instead of offering support and compassion, they turn their head the other way. This volunteer experience has taught me to love and care for everyone equally and whole-heartedly.