Leslie Jackson聽was part of the first 国产主播 cohort affected by the coronavirus pandemic. A nursing student at the Dallas campus, she was only months away from her graduation and her NCLEX exam when classes and clinicals moved to a virtual environment.

鈥淚 actually lived in an Airbnb because I was still working the frontlines and my parents are getting older,鈥� Jackson聽said. 鈥淪o, I lived in an Airbnb while finishing school and studying for my NCLEX. That was about four, five months of doing that.鈥�

Not only did this cohort have to adjust to online classes, but many healthcare organizations froze hiring right around the time of their graduation.

鈥淚 actually got hired in February before I graduated,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淎round April, lots of hospitals were sending out notifications that they were delaying start dates, and my hospital was one of them. So I was like, ‘What do I do? I鈥檝e said no to three other hospitals.’鈥�

I鈥檝e never studied so hard and I鈥檝e never poured so much of my heart and soul into every single class. This information doesn鈥檛 come easily. You can鈥檛 hear it once and regurgitate it because it all builds on each other. Everything that you鈥檝e learned is to save someone鈥檚 life.

Jackson made it work. With the assistance of Career Services specialist Lindsey Peacher, she found a position as a pediatric home health nurse while still keeping her part-time role as a technician in the ER. The ER job meant she was still on the frontlines while the pandemic developed in Dallas.

鈥淚 think our curve was a little later than every else鈥檚, so our numbers were kind of steadying, but we were still very short-staffed, and our patients were very sick,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 was so excited to start. I kind of felt helpless working as a tech in the ER knowing that I could do so much more.鈥�

Jackson鈥檚 hospital ended its hiring freeze, and she was able to start her residency in September. She is now a full-time registered nurse at the same hospital where she鈥檇 been working as an ER technician.

鈥淲orking in the ER, I鈥檓 a completely different person. I鈥檓 super serious, which is not how I am. I鈥檓 down to business. I鈥檓 not anxious and I just feel like a superhero, but we see awful things every single day. Especially seeing sudden deaths of young people and with COVID, seeing people die alone, not being able to be with their families,鈥� Jackson聽said.

Despite the difficult moments in the ER, Jackson has found ways to stay strong, from making time to work out regularly to taking the time she needs to feel grounded. She has been able to provide support not just to her patients, but to their loved ones.

鈥淚 believe holistic care doesn鈥檛 end when the patient dies. It鈥檚 whoever is there when they pass away, too. Like yes, you鈥檙e sad, but be as strong as you can for them,” she said. “Getting the family what they need, calling the chaplain, it kind of takes a little weight off of your shoulders.鈥�

How did the BSN program at WCU-Dallas help prepare you for the reality of nursing?

I like to think of myself as a pretty great student. I took 30 credit hours at my other undergrad because I was double majoring. Got in and out in under two years with two bachelors. Core nursing classes are an聽别苍迟颈谤别濒测听different beast.

I鈥檝e never studied so hard and I鈥檝e never poured so much of my heart and soul into every single class. This information doesn鈥檛 come easily. You can鈥檛 hear it once and regurgitate it because it all builds on each other. Everything that you鈥檝e learned is to save someone鈥檚 life.

What was your experience with the simulation labs?

As someone who was working in the ER at that time, that was the most realistic set-up of a hospital room that I have ever seen. It really does help you with your scanning medications and double verification. For people who have not stepped foot in a hospital setting at all, that is the most comfortable you can get within a safe space.

WCU really puts a lot of time and effort into their simulations. Going back, it would be a deciding factor in picking WCU over any other school.

What was the first mistake you made in Sim Lab?

Our patient was in a critical situation. I was drawing up medication and when I took off the blunt needle, I put it on the table without capping it. So that was just a safety issue for me, for everyone around me and for any family members who were in the room. I鈥檒l never forget that. The times when you make a mistake in聽Sim Lab 鈥� you鈥檒l聽never make that mistake again.

You also had the opportunity to participate in our Global Public Health program in Argentina*. How was that?

That experience is something I still talk about today. I have the anniversary on my calendar, and I talk to the people that I went with.

Being able to work with people there doing simple, basic health assessments 鈥� checking blood sugar and checking blood pressure, teaching them about things we take for granted 鈥� it made me realize why I became a nurse. There are people like that right here down the street in our hometown who are lacking basic access to healthcare. It鈥檚 shaped how I practice nursing now. Everyone who comes in, just start on their level. Educate them the entire time they鈥檙e there so that, hopefully, when they go home, they can share that information with their family. They can take that information and turn their entire life around.

I wanted a master鈥檚 in public health just because I thought it sounded cool. Now, just knowing that there鈥檚 so much out there that we can do as nurses in our community and abroad, I can鈥檛 wait to go back.

What advice would you give to graduating nursing students?

I would apply to every single specialty that you鈥檙e interested in, in every single hospital. Having your cover letter and resume prepares so that, as soon as they鈥檙e open, you can apply. If they鈥檙e on a complete hiring freeze, I would do any home health agency. They鈥檙e usually still hiring and they鈥檒l put you with one patient for the majority of the time. I know people from my cohort that are still doing that here in Dallas.

Lots of people are losing hope, but you didn鈥檛 come this far to only come this far. If your dream is to work in an ICU, apply to every single ICU that is available.

*For standards of eligibility, including required program enrollment, minimum GPA and academic standing visit: westcoastuniversity.edu/international-education

WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.