Interview With A Nursing Major

A nursing major focuses on preparing students for a career as a Registered Nurse through coursework in sciences, nursing theory, and supervised clinical experience and can lead to many unique career paths. Graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed RNs and work in various settings like hospitals or public health, this degree can take you far. To dive deeper into the intricacies of this major, I interviewed Kira Anderson, a Pediatric Registered Nurse. I asked Kira a series of questions regarding her chosen undergraduate major and current career path, and here are her responses:

What school did you attend for your undergraduate degree?

"University of Northern Colorado."

What was your undergraduate major?

"Nursing."

What is your current occupation, and how did your undergraduate major prepare you for your career?

"My title is Pediatric Registered Nurse. My major gave me my BSN, Bachelors of Science in Nursing, which most people attain before becoming a Registered Nurse, as it makes you the most qualified candidate."

What does a regular day in your occupation look like?

"I work three 12-hour shifts per week, which is full time. Nursing is very team-based, so I am communicating with a large team of care providers throughout each shift, as well as the patient and their family. I usually have three or four kiddos that are my patients for that shift, ages 0-18. I am their caretaker, advocate, and comforter for those twelve hours."

Did you do any additional schooling after undergraduate school for your occupation? (If so, then what school/program and how long did it take?)

"No additional schooling, but after receiving a BSN degree, you have to take the NCLEX exam to become a licensed RN. A nursing job is dependent upon passing this licensing exam."

What was your favorite aspect of your undergraduate major?

"The best part for me was the direct path [to a job in nursing], which is why I chose this major. I didn’t want to come out of college without a direct path into a career. Also, I have so many routes that I can take with my degree. I can work as an RN forever. I can become a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant if I choose to do so. I can also take a research path and focus more on the science aspect. Endless possibilities."

What was the most challenging part of your undergraduate major?

"Nursing is incredibly intimidating and challenging, and an extremely competitive environment. For example, in nursing school, there are certain exams you must get 100%, or else you fail. In general, a grade under a 75% is a fail. It is extremely demanding physically and mentally. I completed more than 500 hours of unpaid clinical hours for my degree. However, you literally have lives in your hands, so it’s understandable that the degree is difficult to attain."

What made you choose your undergraduate major?

"I was deciding between teaching and nursing. I wanted to make a difference in lives, especially for kids. The salary and the schedule are what sold Nursing for me. I work three days a week and I make great money."