Nursing sophomore Megan Stake walks with purpose in the Conway School of Nursing’s Simulator Lab, as she prepares to take the vitals of a mannequin on a hospital bed.
“The patients are mannequins, but they can all talk,” she says. “You can actually start an IV on the patients, and all the equipment you work with is real and stuff you’ll actually see in a hospital setting.”
Megan wants to work in high stakes situations. Her goal is to work in emergency care, especially trauma and burn care. She’s balancing her studies with work as an EMT in her hometown, which is possible thanks to the support of her instructors.
“Catholic University focuses a lot on hands-on learning,” she explains. “They’re really interested in giving you an environment that allows you to make mistakes.”
The Cold Spring Harbor, NY, native chose Catholic University because it’s a place that trains the heart and the hands to treat the whole person with love, not just as another patient in a bed. It’s a core value she learned as a child, watching the quality of care her grandmother received by nurses in the hospital.
“I always knew I wanted to go into nursing,” she said. “Catholic University really put my [love of] faith and medicine together.”
Another big draw is the study abroad opportunities specifically designed for nurses. Megan explained that a lot of programs don’t have the flexibility, but at the University, going abroad to expand care horizons is encouraged.
She said of her own experience, “I learned so many communication skills, and I think that’ll help translate into my nursing care in the future.”
Back in Washington, DC, she’s learned how to work with patients from all walks of life – from children to the elderly – at her nursing fundamentals and community health clinical rotations.
“It is the best decision that I’ve ever made. Nursing is such a rewarding profession and studying is hard, but once you get to the clinicals, it really does pay off.”
