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Will Long, BSN, RN

What year did you graduate from UT Health San Antonio? What degree do you have?

I graduated from the University in May of 2016 with my BSN degree.

What is your specialty?

I work in a Surgical-Trauma ICU.

What was the most valuable lesson – inside or outside the classroom – you have learned at UT Health San Antonio?

I think the most valuable lesson I learned during my time in the School of Nursing was to always look for opportunities to learn and grow your knowledge base. No matter what your profession is, always look for those opportunities to learn and become better at what you do. Like the question implies, look for these opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Some of the biggest lessons you learn in life aren’t taught to you in a classroom.

What inspired you to want to become a nurse?

A few things inspired me to become a nurse. Before I made the decision to become a nurse I had an 8 to 5 Monday through Friday desk job as an Inventory Control Manager. After a few years of doing that, I knew I did not want to do that for the rest of my life. A friend made the suggestion to look into becoming a nurse. After doing some research, it looked like it would a great fit for me. I have always enjoying helping and serving others, and I really enjoy learning. I get to do both of those things on a daily basis now as a nurse.

What do you remember most vividly about your time at UT Health?

I have a lot of memories from my time on campus. The one thing that sticks out the most though is the comradery that exists at the University and in particular the comradery that existed in my class. I was blessed to be part of a pretty awesome class. We were one big family helping each other out every step of the way.

What was your most rewarding experience at the University?

My most rewarding experience was being able to serve in the various leadership roles that I was elected to. Serving with other leaders from the schools across campus was a lot of fun. I also was given the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the AACN Student Policy Summit. At this summit, I was introduced to the policy side of nursing, and I was able to go lobby for several nursing-related bills in the Senators’ and Representatives’ offices. This was an experience I will never forget.

What is your greatest professional achievement?

I think at this point in my career as a nurse my greatest professional achievement has been being a part of the amazing team that we have in the unit I work in. As one of the only Level 1 trauma centers in South Texas, we care for a lot of very sick patients. Our team of RNs, Doctors, and Respiratory Therapists is amazing and working with them on a daily basis to save lives is a wonderful experience.

What is your current occupation and where? What’s a day on the job like for you?

I work as a Registered Nurse at University Hospital in the Surgical Trauma ICU. A “day” on the job for me starts at 1830 and goes until 0700, sometimes later. I work 12-hour night shifts. Depending on the night, I will have one or two patients who  I am responsible for providing total care. One of the things that I love most about the unit I work on is that every night is different. You never know what your night will be like. Our patients are very sick and their conditions can change very quickly. You have to constantly be on top of your game and ready to handle very stressful situations. There is always something to do and rarely do you get to just sit down. Every hour, sometimes every 15 minutes, there is always something that needs to be done. It is very busy and sometimes it can be very stressful, but I love it!

What advice do you have for current students?

My advice to current students would be to use the time you have during school to learn as much as you possibly can. Use the time you have there to start creating the foundation that you can build your career on. Approach school in the same way that you’re going to approach your new job when you graduate. Ask questions! When you do not know something, do not be afraid to ask questions. It is better for you to ask questions than pretend you know what you’re doing and risk making a potentially fatal mistake. Also, take advantage of the time you get to spend in clinical. Get in there and get hands on. This is where the real learning happens.

Why do you give back to the university (time and/or donation)?

I am currently serving as a member of an Alumni Mentoring Program for nursing students. This semester I will have two mentees who I will help throughout the semester. I feel it is important to give back and by mentoring nursing student I feel like I can do a little part in making the University better. I loved the School of Nursing, and I am so thankful that I was able to go to such a great university. I want to help uphold the great reputation that the University has and I want people to think of UT Health and think, “That University graduates the best nurses around!”