Senior Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing (ABSN) students had their final day of in-person classes on Oct. 24. For the last day of class, students decided to take Oscar Wilde’s statement that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” to heart. Each of the fourteen students dressed as one of their professors. There were five Dr. DeBrews, three Professor Koonts, three Dr. Van Horns, one Professor Kussman, one Dr. Thomas, and one Mr. Lester.

Students entered into a six-week internship after this day where they will each work alongside a registered nurse for 120-precepted hours before graduation and ultimately sitting for the National Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become registered nurses.

Poole originally came to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ as a pre-med major in the fall of 2020 but transferred into the inaugural Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) cohort in the fall of 2021. She hopes to one day become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Poole is committed to advancing the profession of nursing and is an advocate for her patients and fellow students.

Placekicker Jake Marion ’26 and graduate student Chandler Brayboy are tackling the football field and nursing studies. Brayboy and Marion both indicated they want to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) and work in the operating room as integral members of the surgical team.

Both indicate a desire to help others and Brayboy credits his grandfather with helping him choose a career as a nurse, relating an experience he had several years ago when his grandfather was ill.

Interim nursing program director Stacey Thomas asked both what they liked about the program. Marion states that he enjoys going to clinicals and learning with a hands-on approach. Brayboy states that he enjoys the professors, who he said make him feel like they genuinely care about him and support him. Professors have been attending games, sending kudos in emails for good performances on the field, and bringing in football-shaped cupcakes to congratulate Brayboy on making two touchdowns during the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ-Monmouth game.

Thomas asked if there was any teasing going on in the locker room from other players. Brayboy admitted that many players have started to come to him when they have medical questions that they don’t feel comfortable talking to others about. Marion also says that he gets asked questions all the time about medications and illnesses. When asked if they would recommend nursing to other players, they both said to go for it. They admit that learning time management strategies to get in quality study time with practices can be difficult but they both use practice as an avenue to take out frustrations. Brayboy says that the nursing faculty have been very accommodating in working with his schedule so that he is able to participate fully in the nursing program without missing out on football.

On Thursday, April 27, 14 ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students along with Assistant Professor of Nursing Stacey Thomas participated in a program through Prevent Blindness North Carolina (PBNC) to become certified to conduct vision screenings across the state.

PBNC is a nonprofit organization that seeks to prevent blindness and preserve eyesight through multiple screening programs, widespread education and advocacy. One of the key avenues PBNC focuses on is mass vision screenings for preschool and school-aged children.

The ABSN students completed this training as part of their NRS 3200 Pediatrics course. Once certified, the students can now complete vision screenings at health fairs and schools across the state for the next two years.

The training the students received was put to good use on Saturday, April 29. Thomas took four of her NRS 3200 students (Hyland Alfonso, Grace Auth, Ruth George and Camille Weaver) to Alamance County Health to conduct vision screenings at a health fair for local elementary school students.