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.