Celebrating Nurses Week with Tez Byrnes - Nursing Student

April 13, 2023

By: Angela White

Tez Byrnes

Nursing Student

Q: How did you get into Nursing/What made you interested in it?

A: I have worked around nurses for years as an EMT, and I always admired their work ethic and nuturing nature. What interested me most about nursing was the nursing model of teaching that focuses on an entire person rather than just one thing that may be wrong.

Q: What are your Nursing essentials/accessories that you can't live without?

A: My stethoscope with it’s ID clip and holder (to protect it since it’s expensive!), comfortable shoes, my Apple Watch (to check timing on medications/vital signs but also to track my steps), a reliable bag for all my things, and my big water bottle to keep me hydrated at clinical!

Q: What has been your biggest challenge in Nursing to overcome?

A: My biggest challenge in nursing school thus far has been the pace of my program. Completing an accelerated nursing program (15 months instead of the traditional 24 months) has really challenged my time management skills. But, I’m halfway there and looking forward to December!

Q: What has been your most rewarding moment in your Nursing career?

A: Although I am not a nurse yet, the most rewarding moment as a student has been being able to make classroom connections in real life. Every time I can properly identify a medication without looking it up, or understanding the pathophysiology of what a provider is diagnosing, I feel like my hard work is paying off in front of my eyes!

Q: What advice would you give to others wanting to get into the Nursing field?

A: It will be taxing, you will feel burned out (both physically and emotionally), but you will rarely leave a shift feeling like you didn’t make a profound difference in someone’s life. To have the skillset to save someone’s life is absolutely priceless.