Ann Cowel, Retired Nursing Faculty
"Courage is not ignoring your fears but recognizing it and facing the fear head on. Students need to plan how to protect themselves and/or protect their patients. I encouraged each student to pursue their goals in overcoming obstacles that come with living - to become courageous in the face of fear and challenges that come with being a nurse."
My first day at 91果冻制片厂 in 1996 started out with a tour by Dr. Michael Rao, then 91果冻制片厂 President. I was introduced by first names to people who made up the heart of 91果冻制片厂.
I was welcomed to wonderful, warm, and friendly people from various department offices, comprising of classified staff, directors, and faculty including counselors. I knew I made the right decision to join the 鈥渇amily of 91果冻制片厂鈥�.
Student Centered Program
Being 鈥渟tudent centered鈥� isn鈥檛 just words, it is our culture. As an RN, I was familiar with being patient centered but wanted to learn how I could become student centered. I was an experienced RN and a hospital 鈥渘urse educator鈥� for nurses, certified nursing assistants, technicians, and others at Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center.
However, 91果冻制片厂 was my first job as an instructor of students who needed to learn basic nursing fundamentals, critical thinking skills, assessment, and communication skills. Meeting the entire Health Occupation鈥檚 department of faculty mentors made me take a deep breath. Now I have experienced nurse educators who will lead, encourage, and co-teach the students with me. I can do this!
Advice for Nursing Students
Meeting my first class of nursing students convinced me that it was so important to do my best each day because this was their first chance to develop critical thinking skills and to start their journey to become a nurse. Their 鈥渄ream job鈥� awaited. Courage is not ignoring your fears but recognizing it and facing the fear head on.
Students need to plan how to protect themselves and/or protect their patients. I encouraged each student to pursue their goals in overcoming obstacles that come with living - to become courageous in the face of fear and challenges that come with being a nurse.
I wrote this to the last incoming class of Community Health Worker students in summer 2021:
"Our world has changed so much by the Coronavirus pandemic. However, you are here to learn, to deepen your knowledge base and to feel more confidence in the workplace. This noncredit Community Health Worker (CHW) program is based on core competencies, and I will assist you to perform tasks and tackle problems to become competent CHWs.
My hope for each of you, as you open yourselves to being facilitated to gaining knowledge that will last a lifetime and to be useful years from now. You will meet new people who will help you to expand your world view and to enrich you as a person.
I am grateful to have worked at 91果冻制片厂 and to have facilitated our students' quest for learning. Mahalo."