Year of graduation from Mount Carmel College of Nursing: 2017
Other degrees/certifications: I earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Dschang, Cameroon, and I am certified in Basic Life Support (BLS). I also have Servsafe, Food and Beverage Safety and Restaurant Department Management certifications.
Professional Highlights: I have been working just over a year on the cardiovascular progressive care unit at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, and I would say this past year has been filled with a lot of learning and professional development. I look forward to the next few years, because I am sure there is still much for me to learn about myself and about nursing.
Original hometown: Bafoussam, Cameroon
Current hometown: Columbus, Ohio
When did you first feel the call to be a nurse? Growing up as a kid, I knew I would be a cop like my dad or a nurse like my mum. By the time I was finishing high school, I noticed my interest in helping people drifted more toward the field of health care. That is how I tried getting into health care and ended up in nursing school. I must admit it was not until I had started at MCCN that I had the confirmation that nursing was my calling.
What television show do you have to DVR every week? “Homeland,” because I am a fan of crime scene investigation movies.
What is your favorite memory of Mount Carmel? I had many memorable experiences at MCCN, but the one that marked me most was during our Commencement ceremony. I was asked to make a speech and initially, I had written and emailed to explain why I couldn’t make the speech. I found out after the response deadline that I had forgotten to hit the send button for that email. Considering the deadline had passed, I decided to write something up and it turned out to be the highlight of graduation with very encouraging feedback. Through that situation, I learned never to give up without first trying.
What book is currently on your nightstand (or at the top of your Kindle favorites)? “The Magic of Thinking Big,” by David Schwartz.
How has your Mount Carmel network helped you in your life, personally or professional or both? When I was at MCCN, I spent so much time in school that my group of friends suddenly changed and the new friends I made were very quickly becoming very close friends. This included my classmates and some faculty. We were also put in contact with alumni of the College, so I had support and guidance both at the College and in clinical settings, and even in my social life. When I started working at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, my preceptor was a former Mount Carmel student and he helped me a great deal with my transition into the professional role, because he had been in the same situation just a few years ago.
What advice would you like to share with other nurses as they move from student to alumni of Mount Carmel? It is very important to maintain the networks and friendships created during college years after college. You never know when you will need a reference letter, a recommendation letter or even just some advice. In addition, through the alumni, you stay in touch with the College and can still share in the common goal of improving lives and giving back to the community. Mount Carmel alumni are spread all over the country, so knowing someone or just having something in common with someone in a new environment can make adapting to the new area a lot easier. Besides that, MCCN is a renowned nursing college and there is every reason to be proud of it and proud of representing it wherever you go.
