Watts College of Nursing

Meet Mariah Mawyin, Level II! I am 22 years old. Nursing was my first career choice. Specifically in nursing, I am interested in pediatric cardiothoracic when I graduate! Before nursing school, I did have a decent amount of healthcare experience. I had 3 years of phlebotomy experience and a year of CNA. I attended Watts initially because I had some friends who graduated from Watts and said they absolutely loved it especially the instructors, as you can tell they truly want to see everyone succeed. In the long run, I do want to work as a peds cardiac RN then get my masters and become a NP at a local pediatric clinic.

On my free time I love to spend time with my two huskies and my adorable little boy by going on walks or doing a movie night. However, I have always wanted to travel to Costa Rica.

Since my first semester at Watts, my favorite class has been Nursing Concepts as you get to truly pay attention to what you would do as a nurse and how it affects different populations.

Nursing school has its own struggles but specifically with me is my anxiety. I focus on breathing a lot and tell myself “Just slow down and look at what you can do in this moment.” My biggest advice for studying in nursing school is to take notes from the lecture on the PowerPoint directly and THEN organize them so you can assure you are getting all the information you need. And: complete the practice activities as it can help you further understand a realistic scenario and ask questions.

Last week, our students volunteered at the and . Check out how they gave back to help the health of the Durham Community!

Another busy week in the labs. 1L worked on wound care and dressing changes, while 2L got deep into learning about NG tubes and tracheostomy care. They continued later this week by working on exploring different devices for elimination. 4L used the labs to connect the cardiac rhythms they learned last week to clinical practice by working through the AHA ACLS Pretest and participating in a few code scenarios.

On Wednesday, we had our SGA Meet n’ Greet. Check out the photos!

This week, our 4L students worked through a case study all about the care of a client with a myocardial infarction. What better way is there to celebrate than to work with the staff of the DUH Heart Center?! At DUH Heart , nurses work in a variety of environments: diagnostic areas, specialized floors and ICU’s, the CVSSU, and interventional cardiology all to provide world-class and cutting-edge cardiac care. Our students always enjoy the opportunity to meet and discuss the different roles that nurses can have within the Heart Center. We are grateful for all the work they put into their presentations and their willingness to share their passion for cardiology. ❤️🫀’s

This week’s Senior Seminar featured Assistant Nurse Manager Amanda from the DUH Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Amanda presented a stellar lecture about the necessity of a standard and thorough hand-off. Nurses can give report on their patients multiple times throughout a shift; following a standardized format allows all parties to exchange key information about a patient’s status and needs. We are fortunate to have had her speak with our students and share not only missteps, but the successes and Good Catches that a standard hand-off can provide. She gave us some great tips and habits that her staff use every day to improve the care they deliver at the !

Come grab a 🍕 tomorrow during lunchtime in the lounge and learn about our various student groups!

We had a great turnout for our second annual on campus career fair! Students from all levels met with recruiters and staff from a variety of floors, clinics, and departments to explore some of the opportunities available. While a few students found an opportunity for a part time job, others got an idea about the things they can do to stand out as an applicant for their first RN job. Thank you to all the staff from and Duke Health for coming to excite our students about the possibilities in their future!

Study groups are a great way to review material and check for understanding. Getting together with peers a few days before your exam can help you identify areas to brush up on and give you the time and support to do that. Good luck on your exam today 2L’s!

Meet this semester’s ANS Board:

Lisyana Crawford- President
DiDi McFatter- Vice President
Meagan Woike- treasurer
Munira Adan- secretary
Nasje Alexander- Special Events Coordinator

The Association of Nursing Students acts as a student extension of the American Nursing Association, the largest professional organization dedicated to honoring and supporting the work of nurses everywhere. Keep an eye out for their meetings and information about one of the biggest philanthropic efforts that we participate in each spring, the Angels Among Us 5k Walk for the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Cancer Center at Duke University.