Empty coffee cups litter the floor of Health Sciences Library as people overcrowd a small table cluttered with books on anatomy, physiology, and nursing. They have virtually no time to hang out with their friends. Their only time to relax is the constant bathroom breaks forced on them by the extreme amount of liquid caffeine running their system.
Welcome to the life of a UB nursing student.
Known as one of the top nursing schools in the nation, the UB School of Nursing was founded in 1936 and has since been a popular stop on the career paths of many. According to nursing students, though, that success requires a lot of hard work and the sacrifice of most of their free time.
However, in 2009 there were 4,888 undergraduates in the Nursing program alone, which demonstrates that many students aren't concerned with just being recognized.
For Elissa Boker, a junior nursing student, it was something that appealed to her before college began.
"My Mom is a nurse, so I was always interested in it, and I used to always want to do something in the medical field," Boker said. "I started out wanting to be a doctor and then I realized it wasn't for me. I like nursing and working closely with people."
The ability to form more intimate bonds with patients is a distinct characteristic of being a nurse.
Dana D'Aconti, a junior nursing major, recalls her most memorable studying days thus far as those she actually worked in a hospital. She spent those days relating with patients alongside fellow students and worked directly under the guidance of the hospital nurses.
"[I like] knowing that you get to hang out with one patient all day, and forming one bond throughout the day," D'Aconti said. "They don't want you to leave. They talk to you and tell you things, because sometimes the other nurses are busy, but [nursing students] are only with them."
The work that nursing students face extends beyond the hours they spend in the hospital. For younger students who are still completing prerequisites, the payoff may seem further away because their time is spent more in lecture halls and the library than out in the field. But Boker believes the hard work is made easier by having friends in the Nursing department.
"Having a lot of friends in the program helps because they understand what you're going through," Boker said. "It's comforting knowing that everyone is going through it together."
This is reassuring news to those who still are unsure about applying to the School of Nursing, or those who have already been accepted but have reservations.
There is a lot of dedication and determination required to be accepted into the Nursing program and to flourish as well. But for those students, the extreme workload will be well worth it one day, and it's much easier with friends in the department.
Email: features@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
