“I love to talk to people,” says Sergio Banks, a nursing student at Bryant & Stratton College. “I love helping people, and I would go above and beyond to help people.” It seems to run in the family—three generations’ worth. Soon, Banks will join his mother and his sister in the field of nursing. Prior to retirement, his grandmother worked as a research nurse. So, the inspiration to join the medical field as a nurse has always been there.
In fact, his grandma brought him to work when he was younger, so he got to see what she would do in her role compared to other positions. He realized at a young age that nurses are very influential and very involved in caring for patients. His passion for helping others and being on the front line of patient care is the driving force behind his push to pursue a career in nursing.
Associate Degree in Nursing at Bryant & Stratton College
Today, Banks is finishing his first year of the associate degree in nursing program at Bryant & Stratton College at the Parma location in Ohio. At the same time, he works as a nurse’s assistant in the intensive care unit at University Hospital Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, OH. He anticipates graduating in December.
Banks decided the associate degree program would be best for him because he could use it as a stepping-stone to other paths in the future, such as earning his Bachelor of Science in nursing or becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist or nurse practitioner. Sergio understands the value of pursuing his degree in nursing while working in the field. He says “I use what I learned in school in the position, like new medications, IV insertions, and blood draws. The stuff from my job allowed me to expand my education in school and succeed in my classes.”
For Banks, a nurse is “an advocate for their patients regarding their health or hospital stays, both inpatient and outpatient, and [is] the speaker for the patient’s care.” In addition to specific one-on-one patient care, nurses are also involved in educating patients as well as family members and community stakeholders, and more. Nursing, according to Banks, is filled with educating, advocating, and pioneering for the patients, and his educational journey is giving him the knowledge he needs to do the job right. That in turn makes patients feel more comfortable and helps nurses promote their trust from both patients and their family members.
Passing the NCLEX to Be an RN
To complete his associate degree in nursing, Banks will need to complete multiple clinical courses in areas such as medicine, surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, gerontology, psychology, and critical care. After graduating, he will then have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse (RN). The NCLEX is a computerized test of multiple-choice, short-answer, fill-in-the-blank, and drag-and-drop questions. It assesses the aspiring nurse on knowledge, skills, and abilities essential in the field. Preparing for the exam consists of a lot of studying, but Banks has a plan. “I have a lot of resources around me both at work and at school that can help me pass the NCLEX,” he says.
If you are curious about becoming a nurse, Banks says to “do your research and talk to as many people as you can to find out if it is a great field for you.”
Start Your Journey in Nursing at Bryant & Stratton
The nursing program at Bryant & Stratton College is built to give students firsthand experience in the field and prepare them for anything that may be thrown their way. Although it requires a lot of time and dedication, Banks says, “it is very fulfilling and allows for a lot of variety and options in the nursing field.”
He also warns aspiring nurses “to never compare yourself to others. Nursing is a huge field, and not everyone is going to be the same. Everyone wants to be the best that they can be, shooting for straight As and 4.0 GPAs, which would be amazing, but realistically speaking, work hard, put the work into it, stay dedicated and patient, and the outcome will be successful. Lean on your classmates and instructors, who are resources that you have that will help you to be successful in the long run.”
For National Nurses Week 2022, we are proud to put the spotlight on Sergio Banks and all our nursing students and instructors at Bryant & Stratton College. We are thankful for everything nurses do on the front line that helps save lives and keep communities healthy.
Are you interested in learning more about the nursing programs available through Bryant & Stratton College? Contact us today!