What does it take to be a good nurse and how does Wilkes University prepare you to be one? Deborah Zbegner, Dean of the Passan School of Nursing, recently shared her advice and experiences as a nurse practitioner.
What would you say to someone who is considering becoming a nurse?
This is a wonderful time to enter nursing, because there are shortages in just about every state. New nurses can enter this discipline and have a successful career. You don’t see that in every profession.
Nursing is a career that is rewarding. It is exhilarating. You will flourish, and you can grow. It’s also very rigorous. It requires intellect, emotional stability, flexibility and adaptability. Not everyone can do all those things.
You’ve been a nurse practitioner for more than 30 years. Can you share what your experience has been like?
I can remember back when I was 22 and a brand-new RN on an overflow oncology floor. I can remember my very first breast cancer patient and the hours that I spent with that family. It doesn't go away.
You will remember those people who you took care of intimately. I don't care what discipline you're in or what specialty, you will always know that you made a difference. It also makes you appreciate your own life and to be grateful for what you have. When you leave that floor and you have witnessed such suffering, or that you made someone's day by just being with them, it means the world.
What makes the Wilkes University Passan School of Nursing unique? Why should students come here?
It's small, it's intimate, and you may not find that at larger institutions.
Plus, the faculty truly care for you here. It is a collaborative partnership, between you and us, to get the best for you. Our responsibility is to educate you so that you are safe, effective, and able to care for those people you encounter.
