Why did you join MUNSS? 

Being a part of MUNSS gave me a reason to give back to the tight-knit nursing community that has shaped my experience as a student for the past few years! I’ve always wanted to become involved with/oversee our program in one way or another – working with my fellow peers as catalysts for continuous change and improvement on behalf of the nursing student body is a longstanding passion of mine. I admire that MUNSS is able to support nursing student connections and advocacy during our time at McMaster University.

If you could go back to first year, what advice would you give yourself? 

Nursing is rigorous. There are lots of heightened expectations, so learning how to set personal boundaries and not overexert yourself in various aspects is key to success in university. The saying goes that it’s much easier said than done, but finding a balance to maintain physical, mental and emotional wellbeing will truly prevent early burnout. Take a day off from studying every once in a while and care for yourself as you see fit! You may be a nurse in training, but you also have the rest of your professional career to learn new things + keep yourself busy 🙂

What are your goals this year as a nursing student?  

This year, I’m keen on exploring my areas of interest as an extern outside of school. Currently, I’m in love with my postpartum/L&D/NICU/peds rotation for placement and have a growing appreciation for working with an entirely different patient population. A goal I’m currently working towards for the long-term is aiming to volunteer as a community event responder. I’m always searching for ways to fine-tune my leadership, teamwork, and put my nursing skills to the test, so I have long list of broad goals I hope to achieve.