Kristine听Bunales听wasn鈥檛 always sure she wanted to be a nurse. She knew she loved helping people, but an early anatomy course almost detoured her career path.听

鈥淚 took an anatomy class and was like 鈥榦h, man, this is way too much to memorize,鈥� so I decided to do computer engineering,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hen, I took a class and was like, 鈥榦h, this is not for me!鈥� I figured, I do love working with people,听and听realized that nursing was my passion.鈥�听

The 国产主播-Orange County bachelor of science in nursing graduate shared that while school has been challenging, she never wanted to give up.听

鈥淣ursing school has been really tough but helping people, that鈥檚 just my passion,鈥� Kristine shared. 鈥淚 think it takes a certain kind of person to be a nurse. You have to be very empathetic and caring. I just want to do what I can and help patients feel better even in the smallest of ways.鈥�听

With some of Kristine鈥檚 key courses occurring during the pandemic shutdown in 2020, switching to online courses made school more difficult for her.听

鈥淚t was really tough, for me honestly, because I鈥檓 more of a hands-on learner, so it was hard to pay attention,鈥� she shared. 鈥淚 learned I focus better when I鈥檓 outside of the house 鈥� so, whether I鈥檇 go to a coffee shop, or just outside in my backyard 鈥� that helped me a lot.鈥�听

Throughout it all, Kristine leaned on her own personal encounter with nurses who helped her through a traumatic experience, to keep pursuing her dream.听

鈥淚 want to help people who may have also been through something similar, who went through what I went through and be that inspiration for them,鈥� she shared. 鈥淭o have nurses who are very caring and helpful and very emotionally intuitive as well 鈥� it makes all the difference. So, I want to be that for my patients in the future.鈥�听

Now听hard at work听on passing her听RN听licensing exam, Kristine听has her eye on the prize and reflects on her pinning with gratitude.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e very grateful for having this experience and for being able to have a pinning ceremony and a celebration because I know not everyone was able to have that,鈥� she shared. 鈥淚 just want to say thank听you to West Coast听for that opportunity.鈥�听

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.