What my schedule is like as a UC nursing student

My lecture days start early. I wake up, get ready, eat breakfast, walk to class and try to get there about 10 – 15 minutes early. I have back-to-back lectures and a quick lunch break before ending the day with one or two more classes. Many professors upload their presentations onto Canvas (UC's online learning platform), so I type in unfilled blanks, add in any additional notes and place emphasis on anything that is said in class.

During my lunch break, I typically go to Campus View Café in University Hall, which is the building across from UC College of Nursing. It's a nice time to relax, grab a bite to eat, hang out with friends, study before an exam, or take a quick nap.

After classes are done, I head to The 86 to do homework. The 86 is a small coffee shop located across from the University Avenue parking garage and behind Marian Spencer Hall. I typically stay here until 6 or 7 p.m. before heading to campus to grab dinner and back to my dorm to do more homework before going to bed.

Clinical days start even earlier at 7 a.m. I prepare the night before so that everything is ready to go. To get to clinical, I carpool with my friends. Clinical is a lot of hands-on learning and application, which I love. I start off the day by getting my assignment, searching up my patient, receiving a report from the nurse and going into my patient's room. I get the patient's vitals and start my head-to-toe assessment.

Throughout the course of the day, I continue to help the patient by doing medication passes or turning them, for example, while collaborating with the patient care assistant and nurse. If the patient goes off the unit, I go with them. Clinical ends at 4 p.m. After that, I go home, shower, eat dinner and do homework until I go to bed.