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Between classes: Niven Pong
Nursing
Niven Pong
got by with a little help from his friends.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2008
Currently:
Critical Care RN (Royal Columbian Hospital Intensive Care Unit)
Role Models:
I have been blessed with the opportunity to have a number of wonderful role models. They are instructors, managers, and of course, RNs who have mentored me in my different roles as a student, as a new grad, and as a RN. Each person has been unique, and I have tried to incorporate traits I admire from each of them into my practice.
Big (and little) dreams
In the future I might consider working for a master's degree or explore further advanced practice work. And, eventually, I would like to be a father.
Personal motivation
I always thought I would choose a health care profession as a career. What finally spurred me to make the decision was a bunch of medically related experiences. My aunt passed away from cancer and I would fly out to help take care of her. The frustration of wanting to do more but not having the knowledge on how best to help her was one of the key motivating factors.
Conquering nerves
One memory that stands out is the nerve-wracking moments prior to a dressing change mastery test.
Those "aha!" moments
The best thing about college was making friends made during the program, and those "ah-ha" moments where learning made sense.
Close to home
I have had a number of friends graduate from the Douglas Nursing Program, and hearing their experience and advice helped in choosing Douglas. Douglas’ proximity to where I live was another large factor. Nursing programs are/can be stressful. I wanted to limit the amount of added stress by finding a place that was within reasonable traveling distance.
My favourite instructor
Oh wow, what a hard question to answer! I had many instructors who have had qualities that I really admire. For example, some had such an enthusiasm for the subject matter they teach that you cannot help but become excited and passionate about learning - instructors like Kathleen Stephany and Edrie Sobstyl. There were instructors who reflect a personal interest in you and your education and try to keep their door open for you when you need advice or someone to talk to, like Carolyn Sams, Sue Nicholoson, Susan Greathouse, Cheryl Segaric, and Valerie Sproule. And, of course, there are instructors, like Dan Nagel and Darlene Ellchuck, who you hear are strict and no-nonsense - yet, when you look back, you realize how much you learned because of the hard work they inspired.
An award-winning experience
I won an award from the College of Registered Nurses called the CRNBC Student Professional Award. It’s designed "to recognize the student in each graduating class who has demonstrated the most potential for exemplifying professionalism in nursing." There were many other students who could have won this award. Knowing the quality of my peers, being selected for the award was very rewarding and humbling at the same time.
Advice for new students
Make friends, and make the right friends - they'll help you out immensely. It's a challenging program and, at some point, you will need help, advice, or a sympathetic ear. Be vocal, but not obnoxious. Self-awareness will be your friend. So will getting clarification. Work hard, it’s worth it.
Information session:
There is an upcoming free info session for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at 5pm on April 7 at the David Lam Campus (room A1470). See a complete schedule of information sessions
