Advice from the Assistant Director

In the admissions office, we are often asked if we could describe the ideal nursing student. Applicants want to know exactly what we are looking for. They want the inside scoop – the secret formula to the perfect application to nursing school. I’m here to finally reveal this long awaited and closely guarded secret to the perfect application: IT DOESN’T EXIST. Now that is not to mean that we never see really great applicants - we are often genuinely impressed by our applicants. However, there is no gold standard by which we compare all applicants; No perfect student that we hold all others against.  

Still, there are many traits and qualities we do look for in a potential nursing student. These are measured through our objective requirements, such as GPA and TEAS score, as well as through our less objective requirements, such as the essay. We review applications holistically, viewing each application packet as a portfolio representation of the whole student.

Each week, I will delve deeper into each of these requirements, detailing exactly what we are looking for and what you can do to improve your application. Stay tuned for more following this week! Good luck with the start of the semester!

'Twas the Week before Finals

'Twas the night before finals when all thro' the land

Not a creature was stirring, except for the tick of a watch hand;
The study guides were laid on the desk with care,
In the plans they would learn all the information listed there;
The students were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of beta blockers and ABGs danced in their heads

And my professors in their labcoats, and I in my scrubs,
Had just settled our brains to study how to scrub the hub—‌
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the ghost of the answer to the question that had taunted me all year,
With time running out, I had to select all that apply QUICK,
though later I discovered that I was acting quite thick.
The answer into my mind it came,
And I realized just how to pronounce that disorders' name:
"Not! Grave's Disease, nor Addison's, nor acute pneumothorax;
I knew the answer was pyelonephritis- oh, if I only would have relaxed!"
"To the shared Google Doc! To the chart on the wall!
"Now write it down! Type it down! Now to tell all!"
And so to the group message my fingers did flew,
so my clinical group would know of my epiphany too:
And then with a twinkling, I heard the notification
"Thanks for sending this, my grades needed preservation."
And with that, I crawled back to sleep;
for I had a "A" in that class to keep,
And as my eyes shut and I fell into slumber;
My ears did hear the loud clap of thunder,
The rain fell softly, like a song on repeat
Accompanying my dreams, making my panic obsolete.
 I awoke in the morning, ready to pass:
For I knew the answers, and was prepared for this class
And I laugh'd when I saw the test in spite of myself;
The questions were easy- the answers located in my head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
Grades were then posted, up upon Moodle,
It appeared my efforts were not at all feudal,
For staring up at me, with a wide grinning face
Was the A I had been working for, sitting there in a bold typeface.
I packed up my bags, and ran to my flight
and as I left Georgia Baptist I exclaimed:

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

-Sydney Morfoot and Clement Clarke Moore (traditional 'Twas the Night Before Christmas author) 

The Nursing Student's Holiday Wishlist

It's the Holiday Season here at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, so here's a list of possible gifts for your nursing student or nursing student to be!

1. An acceptance letter from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing!
2. Comfortable white shoes that will withstand clinical after clinical.
3. Pens. Pens with blue ink. Pens with black ink. Pens with clips to hold unto scrub pockets. Cute pens. Ugly pens. Pens.
4. Sturdy backpack to hold textbooks, paperwork, computers, and class assignments.
5. Liquid sleep... or coffee.
6. Giftcards for local restaurants when your schedule just doesn't allow time for you to cook dinner.
7. Stethoscope (which you can buy from GBCN with our logo on the bell!)
8. Healthy snacks.
9. Highlighters, index cards, and other necessary study materials.
10. Rollers of essential oils for when clinicals get a little too messy...
11. Chocolate and other unhealthy snacks for when test time comes around.
12. Taking the kids out for an hour or two so silent studying can occur.
13. Pens.
14. Notes of encouragement slipped in-between textbook pages for a surprise smile while studying!
15. Compression socks for those long clinical days.
16. Plenty of printer paper and ink!
17. Reliable watch with a second hand for calculating respirations and pulse rate!
18. Badge reel for your first hospital name badge!
19. Did we mention pens?
20. The love and encouragement from friends and family!

Ode to Final Exam Week

Dearest final exam week,

Thou hast stirred our slumbering turkey brains.

In the midst of feasting, we may have forgotten thee,

But thou hast comest with blazing speed

To overtake our reveries.

Thoughts of pie and mashed potatoes

Are now again replaced with urine samples,

Auscultation, palpation, bed pans…

Ah but final exam week, thou shalt soon be defeated.

Though you may take our sleep,

Thou will not take our freedom.

Come a week’s time,

Thou shall be vanquished.

At least until May. 

Natalie Clifton c/o 17

A Word from a Student: Erica Golden and Ellie Holst

Hello future students! We have written a poem in order to express all of our feelings throughout the first three months of nursing school. Nursing school is hard; it is quite possibly the hardest thing that we have done. However, it is a great profession filled with compassion and heart, as well as an excellent career to move into and passion to subscribe in. We believe in you and know you can do it!

-

Starting nursing school three months ago,

I did not know how much I would grow,

As I began to attend,

The first week seemed like it would never end,

The stress piled high,

I wanted to cry,

But the friendships I have made,

Have helped me not to fade,

Now looking back,

I know I will not crack,

Even though it was hard,

I still got my hospital card,

The three months have flown,

It is crazy how much me and my peers have grown,

Now looking back,

I have found my knack!

-Erica Golden and Ellie Holst

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A Word from a Student: What Nursing School Has Taught Me

My passion for serving is what drew me in, and it was the the constant challenges that I have faced thus far have made me even more determined to succeed.

I have learned a great deal in my time at Georgia Baptist. I am constantly sharing information I have learned in class and trying to prevent myself from pointing out all of the mistakes in every episode of Gray's Anatomy while watching with my best friend.  I have started receiving the calls from family asking about their pain and my opinion on their health. Although these are often somewhat overwhelming for me, I realize that now I am able to answer these questions with an increased level of confidence in myself and my answers that I have only attained from being active in lecture and participating fully in clinical opportunities. When I look back on where I was at the beginning of the year, I realize that I have grown tremendously not only in my knowledge but also in my passion for the field of nursing. I look forward to being able to help others, learn more, and push myself beyond my comfort areas to strive to be the best student I can be now and eventually a great nurse in the future. 

I Never Assumed

I Never Assumed 

 a reflection from a student

I never assumed nursing school was going to be easy. All of the posts on Pinterest and Facebook did their fair share of assuring me that the two year journey that I was about to embark on was going to be anything but easy. 

I never assumed that life would become so busy so fast. I thought I would study harder and longer than I had in the past, but nothing would prepare me for 12 hour long study sessions staring down the cold, hard face of the whiteboard and the inky black sea of my notes in utter fear and apprehension.

I never assumed that my life would be consumed by school. Long days in class, yes- that was to be expected. The long hours out of class with paperwork, homework, skills verifications, test preparation... that was what I hadn't expected.

I never assumed that nursing school was going to be easy. I never assumed that I would break down in tears over simple tasks- feeling overwhelmed by the scope of it all. 

but...

I never assumed that I would find some of my lifelong friends here, those kind of friends who pick up your pieces and put you back together looking better than you had before. Those friends who come to your rescue no matter the crisis- be it a difficult patient, relationship, test, or just a difficult day ... and yet I have.

I never assumed that I would learn more in 3 months than I ever had in my two years of prerequisites combined and be confident enough to demonstrate them in practice in the hospital... and yet I have.
 

I never assumed that my professors would be so incredibly willing to help. I never assumed that my professors would go out of their way to make things "click" for me. I never assumed that they would pray with me and for me if I needed them to do so. That they would know me by name and become my refuge from the storm... and yet they are.

I never assumed that Georgia Baptist would become a second home, and yet here I am competent, comfortable, and at peace.

I never assumed that here is the place to find your fulfillment and vocation... and yet it is.

I never assumed that perhaps Georgia Baptist was my ticket to understanding deep personal strength and compassion; that here was the place to grow and learn. 

So perhaps it is time that I stop assuming.

-Sydney Morfoot, NS.
Class of 2018
Jesse Mercer Steward

Dear Future Nurse- An Open Letter from the Future You

Dear Future Nurse,

I know that you are terrified, “shaking in your boots”, and completely unsure about yourself. You are questioning if you made the right choice. Will you actually be able to complete this program? What if you cannot do it? Your family has dedicated and sacrificed so much for you to be here, and you cannot afford to disappoint them. “You can do this” is a daily mantra that you should repeat to yourself because you actually can. Believe in yourself. You want to help others, and this is the right place, the right time, and you are the right person to do this. Your parents believe in you, your family supports you, Georgia Baptist chose you to be a representative in their student body. You have ample tools to succeed, so use them accordingly. You are excited about figuring out exactly where you fit in within the hospital. Continue with that fervor and stay motivated even on your lowest, most exhausting days. Your feet may ache, your eyes may be tired, but you know that it is all worth it when your patients are smiling, feeling better, and appreciate your efforts to maintain their safety and comfort. You live for serving others, and you have been guided towards and have followed the correct path to do exactly that with your life. So, yes, you may be terrified, but you know this is truly what you want to do with your life. Work hard, keep your faith, and continue fighting for your future patients because you truly need each other. You are capable, you are dedicated, and you are ready. Do not convince yourself otherwise. Congratulations on your journey; I cannot wait to see you at the finish line.

Sincerely,

A Future You

A Word from a Student: Savannah Jones

In the 2016 Ranking of Best Southern Universities, College Choice ranked Mercer University as number one.  With excellence, Christian caring, compassion, civility, integrity, collaboration, and social responsibility as the core values of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University, it is not hard to see why this college stands out.  Mercer has a great reputation in the community, in the clinical setting, in Georgia, and across the nation. We have a strong participation in the Georgia Association of Nursing Students; Mercer recently held the most delegate seats at the Georgia Association of Nursing Students Convention with two students serving on the Board. Not only are Mercer students active in the state setting, but we also have 100% participation in the National Student Nurses Association.These all make me proud to say that I am a Mercer Bear and attend nursing school at Georgia Baptist, but don't quite cover all of the reasons that I love this university.

I love Mercer because it is like a family.  Nursing school is tough.  It is emotionally, physically, and mentally rigorous.  I have developed relationships with my faculty and fellow classmates like never before because of the amount of time and meaningful experiences we have shared together.  For example, my clinical group calmed my nerves and helped me to maintain my sterile field the first time I changed a central line dressing.  Nursing school is different than any other academic experience you will ever have.  It is a different style of learning but it helps whenever classmates and professors offer encouragement.  The professors genuinely care about making you the best nurse you can be.  They are willing to dress up, role-play, and “make a fool of themselves” if it helps us retain information.  My clinical instructor rebuilt my confidence after being unsuccessful in my first attempt at validation due to my nervousness.  

 I love Mercer is because we know how to have fun.  With such a demanding workload, our professors believe it is crucial to have a little fun every once in a while.  We were very anxious for the first simulation on campus and our professors created the “House of Horror” to ease students into entering a patient’s room in a fun way.  Our professors also take dance breaks in class from time to time to break up the long hours spent in the classroom.  The Admissions Office frequently gives out treats to welcome us back to school, during finals week, and before breaks.  It is the little things that the professors and other faculty do that show you how much they truly care about the students.  

I love Mercer because not only are we a nationally ranked university, but because Mercer Bears are family to each other. I love Mercer because we know how to have fun while maintaining a vigorous academic agenda. I love Mercer and Georgia Baptist because I found a home where I can succeed and become the nurse I've always dreamed of being.