My name is Hsin-Ni Lee. I am from Taiwan. I majored in pre-nursing at Green River College (GRC) and transferred to the BSN program at the University of Washington. I am currently working as a nurse on the medsurg unit at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.
Q. What are your favorite memories of studying at Green River College?
I enjoyed playing volleyball at the RAC in my free time, which helped me make friends when I first started at Green River College. I had a lot of fun attending club events and volunteering at the Lunar New Year party. Other highlights were participating in the one-day trip to Leavenworth and going to a Seventeen concert. As someone who lived at the Campus Corner Apartments during the pandemic and took online classes, the Green River Trails was my go-to when I wanted to take a walk and relax.
Q. Are there activities or other things you wish you would have done or gotten involved in at GRC that you didn’t? This could be nursing-specific or other activities.
Being a peer mentor was something I wish I had the chance to do. As a mentee, I saw how being a peer mentor can help an individual develop skills like leadership, communication, time management, teamwork, and problem-solving. It provides experience working with people who come from diverse backgrounds. As for nursing-related experiences, I wish I had the opportunity to volunteer off-campus in settings like a nursing home, memory care, or hospital. Although a volunteer would not be doing anything clinical, it is a good opportunity to practice interacting with patients, get exposure to patient-care settings, and connect with clinical staff. I highly encourage students to find opportunities on or off campus to develop those life skills and gain different experiences.
Q. How did you decide to apply to the BSN Program at the University of Washington (UW)? What stood out about that program that attracted you to it?
UW’s BSN program was at the top of my list because it provides students with various learning resources, research opportunities, has its own hospitals, and is known as a highly-ranked nursing program. I saw it as the best choice to help me gain knowledge in professional nursing to provide higher quality patient care, qualify me for positions that require more responsibility and leadership roles in nursing, and prepare me for graduate studies and career advancement opportunities.
Q. Were there other programs that you were also considering?
Other programs I applied to included Seattle University, Pacific Lutheran University, and Seattle Pacific University.
Q. In what ways did you feel well-prepared for UW’s BSN program? What things were you not prepared for?
Patient care experience as a CNA helped me prepare for the program. I developed basic patient care skills, such as obtaining vitals, promoting patient hygiene, and performing safe patient transfers/ambulation. It also increased my ability to process and connect information when learning class content in the nursing program. Working with diverse populations developed my cultural awareness and was helpful because UW’s BSN program emphasized DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) in our nursing education. In addition, having experience as a research assistant back in Taiwan, I gained a general view of what research in nursing could look like. This motivated me to take advantage of the opportunities in the BSN program to participate in research.
One thing I was not expecting was how clinical rotation schedules could vary. There are times we would be scheduled for day shifts, evening shifts, and weekend shifts. Some of my peers also had to be on night shifts during their senior practicum. Time management and flexibility were the outcomes of adapting to these varying clinical schedules.
Q. What are your plans after you complete your med-surg nurse residency?
I would like to take preceptor classes to be qualified to precept students and new nurses in the future. Getting certified as a med-surg RN is another goal of mine. I may also pursue higher education in nursing someday.
Q. What other advice do you have for our current pre-nursing students as they continue on their nursing pathway in the US?
Nursing itself has a lot of challenges, and as international students, there may be times we have additional barriers to overcome. However, don’t let that discourage you! It takes time to find what works to tackle the difficulties. I would encourage to explore different options, find resources, and form connections to expand perspectives. Please do not hesitate to reach out for support when needed! Peers, school faculty, and loved ones can play different yet vital roles in supporting you throughout your nursing journey in the US!
Q. Any last thoughts, advice, comments?
As we aspire to become a nurse in the caregiving role, don’t forget it is equally important to take care of ourselves. Utilize your support system and take time to do things you enjoy!
Learn more about Green River College's Nursing Program.