Graduate Spotlight: Veronica Vincent

Name: Veronica Vincent
Program of Study: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Hometown: Madison Heights
Year of Graduation: 2020

What made you choose Baker College to get your Nursing degree?

I chose to go to Baker College my senior year of high school. The tech center I attended went on a field trip to visit and see the different programs they offered. I remember feeling so welcomed talking to the faculty and that they truly wanted their students to find success. I also liked the smaller class sizes, as I knew it would provide me with more personalized help throughout my studies. They were also just starting up their BSN program and seemed excited to have students join them!

What's your favorite thing about nursing?

There nothing more rewarding than knowing you helped someone feel seen, cared for, and understood. As nurses, we have the opportunity to do this each and every day we practice. We are the ones there for people in some of their most vulnerable times, whether that be hearing devastating news or the arrival of a new baby. We get to be there for people, supporting, comforting, and caring for them all along the way. We are their advocates and having the privilege of people’s trust is something to be treasured.

What's your favorite memory from your time here at Baker College?

My favorite memory is probably from back when I was taking prerequisites. I had just finished up Anatomy and Physiology 2 and was now in Pathophysiology. I remember learning about disease processes and being able to connect them back to what I had learned in my A&P classes. It was so exciting to have things finally connecting and relating to one another! The professor, Dr. Muniz, made learning so interesting and I really felt valued as a student. It reawakened my love for the human body and its intricate design, just in time for me to be entering the nursing program the following semester!

What are your post-graduation plans?

After graduating, I plan to sit for my boards and start working as a Labor and Delivery nurse. This specialty has always been on my heart to pursue! However, there are so many avenues nurses can explore, and I’m honestly open to see where this career takes me. After some years of experience, I’ve often played with the idea of potentially going back and getting my MSN so that I can teach.

What advice do you have for incoming nursing students?

Don’t be so hard on yourself and don’t forget to care for your own wellbeing! As nursing students, we are our greatest critics. I remember going from a 4.0 student to taking my first nursing exam and feeling so defeated. The testing is different though and it may take some time to develop those critical thinking pathways, but you’ll get there! Grades are not always a reflection of the kind of nurse you’ll be, everyone’s journey is different and just because you may struggle in a class doesn’t mean you’ll be an unsuccessful nurse. Give yourself some grace and keep pushing forward. In every class we learn how to care for others, we lose sleep studying, we miss out on socializing, we stress…then all of a sudden you realize that somewhere along the way you forgot to care for yourself. Don’t wait till you’re at your wits’ end to take time to nurture yourself; because this will then carry on into your career. Set time aside for yourself each day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, to care for your wellbeing. Doing this, along with learning how to cope with stress, prioritizing sufficient sleep, and not procrastinating would be my best advice for incoming nursing students. Know that you are not alone in the nursing student struggle, it is challenging in some aspect for everyone. You can do it!

Do you want to shoutout a faculty or staff member who helped you along your college journey?

There’s no way to shoutout just one faculty, I’m thankful for so many members in helping me along this journey…Joshua Dugas for teaching me how to write a good paper, Lisa McMillen for making math not so intimidating, Dr. Andrew Muniz for giving me an amazing foundation in knowledge of how the human body works, Teresa Cowan for encouraging me in chemistry, Chris Hoerauf for always answering random questions I have and advising me all throughout my studies, Tom Miller for sharing his financial wisdom and helping me find scholarships to apply for, President Karsten for caring about the quality of his students’ education, of course, all the nursing faculty (Mrs. L, Mrs. Fak, Mrs. Mitchell, Ms. Tou, and Mrs. Crowe). Special thanks to Dr. Lazar for making me feel valued as an aspiring nurse and truly wanting her students to succeed, to Laura Allard for seeing my potential and pushing me outside of my comfort zone to grow, and to Mrs. Pieroni for always having her door open to hear the concerns of her students and encouraging us along the way.