Brandon Kreger is a first-year nursing student from Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Why did you choose to pursue nursing? Or, how did you know you wanted to be a nurse?
I chose to pursue nursing for a few reasons, but I didn’t always know that this was the path I wanted to take. I ended up here almost accidentally, but I’m glad that’s how it worked out. Growing up, I was always told I was a gentle and caring person. Also, I have loved science since I was a young kid. I took what I was naturally good at and combined it with my passion for science, deciding to work in the medical field. Originally, I thought I wanted to go for kinesiology. The plan was to pursue physical therapy because I had some issues with stress fractures in my legs when I was a freshman in high school.
Later, when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, in 2021, that all changed. In the hospital, I don’t remember anything I was taught or much of what I did while I was there, but I do remember how my nurses treated me. They treated me with kindness, respect, and empathy, and even if I didn’t quite know it yet, I wanted to follow in their footsteps. When I applied and was accepted to UW–Madison, it was as a kinesiology major. However, I changed my mind at SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration) and joined in with the pre-nursing students. I have been pursuing this path ever since, and I know it’s right for me because I want to make others feel the same way I did when I was in my time of need. I want to be a reassuring presence for my patients and help them return to their daily lives.
What does a week in your life as a nursing student look like? How do you balance it all? (ex. How your week is structured between clinicals, classes, simulations, assessments, etc.)
This is a great question, and if someone figures it out, let me know! But realistically, I developed some methods to stay organized, which has helped me massively this Fall 2024 semester. I made separate online calendars for all my classes, work, and other events or activities, which helps me show up on time. I also set up a reminder list on my phone with A, B, and C lists to help me prioritize what must get done today, this week, and sometime in the future. Canvas also has a nice calendar that helps remind me when assignments are due to ensure I turn in my homework on time. Besides that, the most important thing for me has been ensuring that I get a full eight hours of sleep every single night, no matter what. I always feel better when I have that full night of sleep, and I think it helps me start and finish my days strong.
What has been your favorite class or unit in the nursing program so far?
It is really hard to choose which class has been my favorite because I’ve been enjoying all of them. I’ll say pathophysiology has been my favorite class, but our fundamentals course in CTEN (Center for Technology-Enhanced Nursing) is a close second. Pathophysiology interests me because I love looking at how and why things happen, which is what this course explains to us. Besides that, it has also helped to have an amazing professor in that course, Traci Snedden. I appreciate how she made the slides interesting and how she made our classroom feel like an open space to share. Before class, she allowed the students to use the microphones to share daily. Whether it was presenting research or sharing something we were excited about, it was all fair game. I took advantage of that to share something every single day for 15 weeks straight. I mainly talked about research that was happening in diabetes because that is my passion, but I also shared some of my accomplishments or things I was excited about. It was a lovely course, and I feel more prepared for my career, not just from a knowledge perspective but also because I feel even more confident presenting and talking to others.
Where have your clinical placements been? And what were your experiences like?
In my first and only clinical placement so far, I was placed at Oakwood Village East in Sun Prairie. It was an amazing experience, and the staff there was so helpful in getting us acquainted and to work. When I talked to the residents, they all reciprocated what I saw, so I felt it was a good place to work. On top of that, I also had a fantastic clinical instructor named Leanne Lutz, who cared for us and made sure we had all the tools we needed to be successful. Considering this was my first time working in a clinical setting, I appreciated having a good clinical instructor and staff. I am glad they changed the way our clinical worked this year. We all started in a lower acuity setting. And after building some confidence, we can now go work in a more intense setting. Next semester, Spring 2025, I look forward to working on unit F6/6 at the University Hospital!
What are you most looking forward to in your senior year at the School of Nursing? What will you miss most?
Well, I think the most obvious thing I’m looking forward to next year is graduation, but there are a few other things I’m excited about. I was accepted into the nursing honors program, and next year, I can begin my research for that. I’m not sure what I’ll be researching yet because the program starts next semester. However, it doesn’t matter to me, as I am just excited about the opportunity. In terms of what I’ll miss, I think I’ll figure that out when I get to that point. Making a prediction, I anticipate that many of my classmates will move away or get busy, so we probably won’t be able to stay super connected. Hopefully, that’s not the case because everyone has been very kind.
How would you describe the culture of the nursing program?
The culture of the nursing program is unlike anything I’ve seen before. I was incredibly surprised to learn how open and helpful my classmates are. If I ever feel stuck on a specific topic, I can go around and ask anyone about their ideas. They are willing to help me approach it from a different perspective. It is like our quizzes/exams, as many people are willing to share their study guides and techniques, allowing me to prepare for tests. Besides my classmates, all the professors and staff members have been accommodating. The professors have office hours and review sessions to make sure they’re accessible and that we understand the material. The rest of the staff usually have drop-in hours if we have questions about our course schedule, clinical placements, etc. I only have good things to say about how it feels to be a student.
What are you involved in or interested in outside of nursing school? (ex. Hobbies, clubs, jobs, etc.)
My activities have decreased a bit since starting nursing school, but I still find time for things here and there. Currently, I work for UW Health at the University Hospital as a nursing care partner. I enjoy the job because it’s simple and helps me understand how the whole care team works together for a patient. I also like that I get to schedule myself, so I can always fit it into my schedule. One thing that I have always enjoyed all my life is playing video games. I played for the school’s Rocket League esports team and won the state championship in 2023. Unfortunately, I stopped to make time for my studies. Other than that, I am involved in the Badger Diabetes Advocates and Badger Drone Club, and I started going to a bi-weekly event called Global Cafe. Global Cafe is an event put on by International Student Services and it’s especially interesting to me because I get to interact with international students from all around the world. I found this helpful for understanding other cultures and why there may be differences and disparities between them. I feel it’ll be informative for my life and career in nursing to ensure my patients’ needs are met to their standards.
What are your career aspirations after graduation?
I don’t have a fully-fledged plan, as I’m open to working in any specialty or even in research. Wherever life takes me is where I’ll go, but for now, it makes sense to work in endocrinology. As a well-managed Type 1 diabetic, I have knowledge that would be awesome to give to others and hopefully improve their outcomes. Of course, endocrinology is more than just dealing with diabetic patients. But I know I’d be able to personally relate to them. That said, the rough plan is to work somewhere for a few years, go back to school for a DNP (doctor of nursing practice), and work with patients with endocrine conditions. I think no matter where I end up, I’ll have a positive impact on my patients and co-workers. I’m just excited to get to that point.
What advice would you give to individuals who are interested in pursuing nursing? This could be geared more towards pre-nursing students, high school students who may want to go to nursing school, or any student who is undecided about nursing — whatever comes to mind!
My advice to anyone who wants to do nursing is that you need to know that it isn’t easy. It takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance, which is why it is such a rewarding experience. The payoff in the end is worth every tear and every long night. You will develop a deep passion for what you are doing and for the people who come across your path. Keep up the good work — you can do it!
What is your top bucket list item and why?
Short and simple: I would love to travel and see every continent. I am in the works of planning a trip to Asia for a few weeks after graduation and the NCLEX to start finishing that quest. There is much to learn from seeing other places and interacting with people. But I also want to see some beautiful landscapes and architecture.