A Message to Undergraduate Nursing Students

Preston Miller

 

My name is Preston Miller. I graduated with my BSN from the University of Alabama in Huntsville's (UAH) College of Nursing in December 2019 and have since been working as a staff nurse at Huntsville Hospital's Surgical-Trauma ICU and Graduate Administrative Assistant for UAH's Institutional Review Board. This summer I began working on my Ph.D. in Nursing Science here at UAH. As someone who has been in your shoes and understands the road ahead, I wanted to contribute to the College of Nursing's blog by offering some advice based off my undergraduate experience.

As upper division nursing students (and possibly lower division), you all have made sacrifices to make it where you are today. You may have missed family gatherings, spending time with friends, or other important life events. The path you have chosen will require more from you in terms of time and grit; however, the reward for your endeavor is only so much sweeter because of it. Today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the critical need for nurses - now more than ever - is apparent. You are on the path to help fill that critical need.

Your education and future career will be difficult. You have chosen a path where you have to be prepared and equipped to be a life-long learner in order to provide the safest and most effective care to your patients. You will make life-long friends throughout this journey and I implore you to take advantages of each other's strengths. Nursing is a career where teamwork is crucial and you should take this time during your undergrad to hone those skills. I wish you the best in your endeavors as you complete your degree and become the next generation of nurses.