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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.

Halloween Costume Contest 2016

Students and faculty got into the Halloween spirit and dressed in costume for class on Monday, October 31st in a costume event sponsored by GBCN’s Office of Admissions. The Admissions office, in turn, was bedecked in spiderwebs and caution tape to celebrate the holiday. An open snack table for students contained “Clogged Arteries” (Twizzlers), “Kidney Stones” (Peanut M&Ms), “Happy Pills” (Skittles), and “Urine Samples” (lemonade). Junior Sydney Morfoot (pictured here as Mary Poppins)  won “Best Individual Costume” for the Office of Admissions’ contest and “Most Creative” in the campus wide costume contest. Associate Dean Dr. Rubenstein (pictured here as Cruella DeVille) won “Best Faculty Costume” in both the Admissions’ event as well as the campus wide event. Juniors Victoria Collins, Jana Strickland, Aly Nasoulis, Ashlea Shumpert, and Karen Perkins won “Best Group Costume” in the Office of Admissions’ contest as “Select All That Apply: It’s Never Just One… It’s Never all Four”. Be sure to check out all of our costume contest contestants by clicking on the link below!

Click here to see all of our costume contest entries!

Meet the Team!

Welcome to the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing Admissions Blog!  

My name is Janda Anderson.  I joined GBCN in the fall of 2015.  As the Director of Admissions, I lead the marketing, recruiting and admissions efforts for the GBCN’s graduate and undergraduate programs.  

I never expected to land in admissions—who really thinks they are going to grow up to be a director of admissions when they are in high school?  Not I!  I was convinced, I was going to be the Beyonce of social media marketing.  Then I went to college and worked as a RA and in the admissions office and the plans changed for me.   I loved being a sounding board for my residents and helping prospective students make their college decisions. I enjoyed working with college students and knew I wanted to do that.

I recently moved from San Antonio, Texas where I was in admissions at the University of Texas Health Science Center- School of Health Professions.  I am super excited to have joined such a historic College of Nursing and look forward to bringing great new things to GBCN office of admissions!

My name is Lynsey Nejman, and I joined GBCN in the fall of 2016. As the Assistant Director of Admissions, I assist in the marketing, recruiting, and on campus events for the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing. 

I began my career in admissions as an undergraduate student tour guide and ambassador at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating, I have worked in both graduate and undergraduate admissions in Florida and Georgia. In the fall of 2015, I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. I love working with college students, and my true passion lies in higher education.

Outside of work, I spend all of my time with my husband, our baby daughter and our dog, Dobby. We love to watch football, play outside, and goof around!

My name is Jordan Kelly. I joined the GBCN Admissions team  this August. As the Admissions Counselor, I often represent the college at recruitment events and offer assistance to applicants and other interested students throughout the admissions process by maintaining a constant line of communication.

I'd be lying if I told you working in admissions was always my dream job. Sometimes, I dreamed of interviewing celebrities on the red carpet as an on-camera media correspondent. Other days I could see myself on the other side of the interview mic, living a lavish lifestyle as a Hollywood A-lister. Then, probably much like my counselor counterparts, I went to college, worked for Housing as a RA then in Admissions as an ambassador and new goals emerged. Nevertheless, whether on-screen or behind an office desk, I always knew one thing: I wanted to make a living doing something that came natural to me. I truly enjoy being social & communicating with others, and I also am really big on mentoring

I am very excited to have joined the GBCN team, and I look forward to a wonderful experience in the Office of Admissions.

Hello! My name is Samantha Davis-Woods and I am your admissions specialist! I am currently attending Strayer University in Atlanta, Georgia, where I am pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Business-Human Resource Management. Prior to my current position, I was a transcript specialist at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey.  During this appointment, I was responsible for the complete transcript process as well as the full Registrar's Office experience.
As an Admissions Specialist for Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, I am  responsible for assisting admission office team members, as well as supporting prospective student applicants. 
Outside of work I enjoy spending quality time with my husband Robert and our two children.


Why the blog?

Who doesn’t want tips about applying for nursing schools from the pros (admissions staff) and the students (student ambassadors)? Check back here for an inside look into Georgia Baptist College of Nursing- we'll be sure to include everything from admissions tips and tricks to anecdotes from nursing students, and an in-depth glimpse into life here at GBCN!