Katrina Brandenburg
practical nursing
Winnemucca, NV
By Cassie Winter, University Communications and Marketing Intern
Why did you go into nursing?
鈥淲hen I was little I wanted to be either a doctor or lawyer, then I realized how much school that was. Nurses are more hands-on with patients. You are more a part of their care, and not just for their physical needs. Nursing is holistic, from mind, body and spirit.鈥
Tell me more about the holistic side of nursing?
鈥淲hen we look at a patient, we look at their response to their medical problems and not necessarily the medical diagnosis. So distress, depression and anxiety are concerns that nurses help with.鈥
What are the challenges of nursing school?
鈥淚t is so much more time than I expected. It is like a full-time job and then some. The amount we have to learn in a small amount of time and I have three small children, so it鈥檚 been insane.鈥
What are some key characteristics nurses should possess?
鈥淗aving a foundational knowledge in the path of physiology paired with a caring and compassionate attitude towards the patient makes a difference.鈥
Why did you choose City College?
鈥淟ooking back I鈥檓 really glad I picked City College because the faculty is wonderful, they鈥檙e helpful and they care. That has really made a difference.鈥
Graduates of the nursing program will be pinned next week during a ceremony. Explain what pinning ceremony entails?
鈥淚t is a ceremony where traditionally a nurse who has been in the field awhile, pins you like a symbolic welcome into the nursing profession. Our nursing pinning ceremony we pick the people who are pinning us, like family. My husband and children will pin me. We also do a lamp lighting ceremony where our faculty nurses are going to light nightingale lamps as a symbolic passing of the torch welcoming us.
Graduation is nice and we鈥檝e all worked really hard to get where we are, but the nurse pinning is more small and intimate, and it鈥檚 about us.鈥