Heather Fischer has always wanted to be a nurse.听Inspired by her daughter鈥檚听pediatric intensive care unit听nurse听鈥� who听she got to know during her daughter鈥檚 scoliosis surgery听鈥撎齮he听mother of two听first听earned her associate’s degree and surgical technician certification and has been working in the operating room听at a local hospital听for听the past听five years.听

鈥淚 looked around at the nurses I worked with and the ones who are the most knowledgeable and the best at what they do have graduated from 国产主播听during听the past 10 years,鈥澨鼺ischer听shared.听听

Last year,听Fischer听decided to take the leap and enroll at 国产主播-Ontario.听

鈥淚 asked听my nursing colleagues听what school听they听recommend听and they all听said,听鈥楧efinitely go to WCU,鈥櫶齛nd now I鈥檓 in my third term,鈥澨齭he said.听

Balancing听being a mom to a听15-year-old听and听12-year-old, working听part-time and听attending class full-time over the past year during the pandemic听has not been easy.听

鈥淚 have a set plan for every听day,听and I give myself a little wiggle room to make sure听I have听that time to get everything completed and spend听time with听my daughters,鈥澨鼺ischer听said.听听

She shared听that her daughters see her studying听and听sometimes join听her virtual lessons听to learn too.听Now听Fischer鈥檚听oldest daughter wants to become a surgeon when she gets older.听

But the biggest challenge for the self-described extrovert over the past year has been the shift to online learning,听specifically听having her听study group online.听

鈥淚 love having study groups in听person,听but we figured out a schedule and what was expected for听us,听and we听had to be flexible and adapt quickly,鈥澨鼺ischer听said, also adding that the online videos have been helping her retain information throughout her fast-paced courses.听

Over the past year,听Fischer鈥檚听love of nursing became even more focused as she got to experience hands-on care with patients and their families outside of the OR during the pandemic.听

鈥淲hen听COVID-19听numbers spiked, I was put on a neurotrauma听COVID听unit and I got to be a part of the nursing team in the role of a听certified nursing assistant (CNA),听and the amount of care that you give on the floor is incredible,鈥澨鼺ischer听said.听鈥淭here are so many things you do on the floor as a nurse听and听your decisions can impact care.鈥�听

As听Fischer听continues her coursework at WCU, she shared that her biggest advice is to get involved in the online chats, ask questions and find people who have similar interests that you connect with to support each other.听

鈥淢ake sure you have a plan, make sure you鈥檙e motivated, make sure you have a support group听and听reach out to people you know in the nursing field for advice,鈥澨鼺ischer said. 鈥淚t really helps.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.