While we all have been affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic, for our spring 2021 graduates, the past year of nursing school has looked very different from what they had envisioned.
They have needed to adapt to uncomfortable and unknown environments, and along the way, they have shown just how flexible and resilient they can be. Nearly 200 entry-into-practice students exited UMSON early this spring, prior to UMSON’s May 20 graduation date, so they could bolster the nursing workforce after being called to do so by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
There is no denying that this past year is unlike any other in UMSON’s history. But don’t rely on us to tell you. Here, graduating students share what the experience has been like for them.
Samantha Durieu
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
On changing expectations: Family and friends and people who've been in nursing school kind of wrapped it up in this pretty little package with a bow, saying nursing school is going to be the best four years of your life, and you're going to have friends forever that are going to be your family. And it started to feel that way; the first semester going into my second semester, our cohort was getting really close. We were really honing in on our skills as nurses. And then the carpet was just yanked from right underneath us. And nursing school became something that I could have never imagined.
On being called to the front lines: I jumped at the opportunity to get a state of emergency clinical nurse license. And I immediately started being a COVID-19 tester for the Baltimore City Health Department and the state of Maryland. I was driving all over Maryland, COVID testing anybody that I could. I would drive down to the University of Maryland, College Park, our sister affiliate school, and I would COVID test 300 students twice a week just so they could be on campus. It's a great feeling of gratitude to know that those students were able to stay healthy. They were able to have somewhat of a normalized college experience to the best of their ability, and we got to help them stay safe. That was really exciting for me.
Tai Smith
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
On graduating during a pandemic: To me, it definitely feels different to be graduating during this time. It has been a significant transition to move to virtual learning and to have more limited clinical experiences. And I know it's also a little disappointing to many to have to miss out on the traditional aspects of graduation. But in a way, it also feels kind of special to be graduating during a pandemic, especially in the field of nursing. We've already had opportunities as a student to provide care directly related to COVID-19. And once we graduate, there will be even more opportunities that will open for us. So it's definitely been a unique experience, and I'm just happy to have the opportunity to at least play a small part in helping bring the world back together.
On the future of nursing: I feel more strongly about what brought me into nursing. And I think I can probably speak for a lot of people when I say we come into this field because we love to help people. We love to care for people. And that's basically what the main aspect of nursing is. Just seeing how this pandemic has affected so many people in so many different ways just reiterates how important it is for nurses to be a part of a health care team, not only caring for people medically, but psychologically, financially, and emotionally.
Allegra Estreet
Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader
On nursing school during the pandemic: It was just such a shock. And I think that we're all adjusting. We're all adjusting to it as we go along. It's just been different. This has been a different experience than what I had imagined nursing school would be. Still a good experience. As nurses, you also need to be able to adapt, to change, and to keep rolling with the punches. That's what we just had to do.
On resiliency through the pandemic – and beyond: There's more education on the line for me. I have a goal that I'm going toward. So pandemic or not, I'm going to keep moving toward it. That's all there is to it. The pandemic altered my education and it made me wonder if I would be prepared to go to work after graduation. And I'm learning that I am. I still have more to learn, and I'll learn more while I'm on the job, but I feel like I'm ready.
Interviews and photos by Matthew (Dag) D’Agostino; story compiled and quotes edited for brevity by Libby Zay