On a journey as the third in three generations of nurses, pre-licensure student Taiga Sherman came to VCU from rural Alaska. We caught up with her to hear more about how she’s learning to love the challenges presented by nursing school–from navigating study schedules and being the new kid at school to adjusting to not quite so “polar” opposite climate.

What has your experience been like at VCU School of Nursing (SON) so far?

I came to VCU as a transfer student from Alaska, which is where I grew up and spent the last three years there in college. I applied to VCU because of its reputation as a nursing school and because I wanted to experience living on the east coast. I won’t lie, coming from central Alaska to (what is to me) a big city was an adjustment in more ways than one. The best part about VCU so far has been the friendships I’ve made. I remember being so stressed out in orientation over not knowing anyone and being so far from home. Over the course of the semester, I naturally just found my place in a great circle of people. I have been able to have personable but professional relationships with my instructors and clinical leaders, which is something I have never experienced in any of my other college courses. The staff and faculty at VCU SON really are there to help you succeed and support you, not just throw the information at you and make sure you meet the required clinical hours.
 
What led you to go to nursing school?

After graduating high school, I imagined myself in some kind of medical career but I didn’t know exactly what. It wasn’t until I saw all the work my mom was doing for our community when the pandemic kicked off that I realized all the varying versions of nursing that exist. My mom was an ER nurse for 20 years then got her Master’s in public health nursing. She now works as a nurse educator for a nursing school as well as being the director of nursing for a group of clinics. Seeing firsthand the flexibility there is in nursing is ultimately what led me to apply to nursing school. I want to work in pediatric oncology but having the freedom to change my mind and try new things is the most exciting part about the career. Upon passing the NCLEX, I will represent the third generation of nurses in my family, which is another reason I was motivated to apply to nursing school.

I have been able to have personable but professional relationships with my instructors and clinical leaders, which is something I have never experienced in any of my other college courses. The staff and faculty at VCU SON really are there to help you succeed and support you, not just throw the information at you and make sure you meet the required clinical hours.

Taiga Sherman

What experiences helped prepare you for the demands of nursing school?

Most people say that having some kind of previous exposure to the medical world is going to benefit you in nursing school. Before applying to VCU, I worked as an EMT, and maybe a few things during clinicals came a little easier for me, but some of the brightest people in my cohort are those who have never had that exposure. I would argue that any job or experience that teaches you about self-discipline and accountability is what will help you succeed in nursing school. You can’t be late to your clinicals. You actually have to read the textbooks this time to pass the exams. For most of college while in Alaska, I was working two jobs as a full time student. I had to learn how to balance school, work and my social life and sometimes one suffered more than the others. I have to do the same with nursing school but it’s easier now because I had a few years previously to find that balance.
 
What is unique about the VCU SON that made you choose this program?

I was drawn to VCU SON because of the relationships the program has with all the hospitals and research institutes in Richmond. I wanted to be in a program connected to a big learning hospital. I am interested in pediatrics, so Richmond having a children’s hospital was another draw for me. What I love about VCU is all the opportunities to throw something extra on my resume such as joining a research program, shadowing a provider, or going on a volunteer trip.

What is the most challenging part of nursing school?

It’s challenging to not beat yourself up over not studying enough or not practicing the skills enough when you get something wrong. I always found myself wishing I had studied just a few hours more after each exam and maybe then I would have gotten that extra point.  The truth is, there is always going to be something more to learn. Getting 100% on an exam does not mean you’re the smartest in your cohort. Just because someone spends 10 hours straight in the library doesn’t mean that’s gonna be the best study method for you. The challenging part of the first semester is finding those study methods that do and don’t work for you. You have to accept that it will take some time to find your fit and when you do, you’ll be set and ready for the new challenges thrown at you next semester. 

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from nursing school so far?

“What you put into clinical is what you get out of it.” This was repeated to us countless times over the semester for our clinicals and I cannot stress how true this is. I had so many unique learning moments in the hospital because I took advantage of any free time during clinicals. I would ask to tag along with another nurse or I would assist the patient care technician. The nurses and staff at VCU health know that they work for a learning hospital and they all were so excited to answer my questions or show me a skill if I asked. Always ask questions. Even the unrelated random ones. Don’t just do the bare minimum when there are so many resources and people at VCU SON to help you go above and beyond.

What helps you de-stress as a nursing student? 

Keeping to the same schedule every week helped me survive my first semester. I actually enjoyed the mundane of waking up early, throwing on my scrubs, eating my overnight oats and heading to class/clinicals. Being in class or in the hospital all day and then strictly seeing my evenings as a chance to do whatever I wanted helped me distress as well. Having study rewards also helped. The days leading up to my exams, I consumed a shameful amount of sour candy, but I thought of it as my reward for keeping my nose in the books for extended periods of time.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Being from Alaska, I’m all about the outdoors. I love hiking, camping, fishing and I have recently started doing more technical mountaineering, but unfortunately Virginia doesn’t have mountains quite that high. Instead, exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway and national parks to the west of Richmond is something I am looking forward to this summer and fall.
 
Where do you see yourself after graduation?

After graduating, I plan to go back to Alaska to work because they have programs to help me pay back any school debt, and I miss the snow. Alaska also needs more flight nurses, another area of nursing I might consider down the road. After a few years, I plan to pursue my D.N.P. in nursing and eventually work as a nursing instructor.