By Frank Couch
Fifth-semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing student Taylor Washington knew she had found her home when she first stepped onto the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus. Washington grew up in Dallas, Texas and in high school was a track athlete specializing in hurdles.
“I knew that I wanted to become a nurse and wanted to continue to compete, but my academics would come first,” she said. “I visited a couple of schools close to home that had nursing schools and Division 1 track programs, but they didn’t feel right.”
Washington’s parents grew up in the Birmingham area and suggested she visit UAB.
“I came to the spring invitational track meet and could see myself running here. Then, as I walked across campus, I could see myself fitting in. Finally, when I visited the School of Nursing, I said this is really nice, and I could see myself in the classrooms and simulation suites learning to become a nurse,” Washington said.
She spoke with faculty and left with the feeling that everyone was willing to engage and help her learn. Her parents and many people in her family are engineers, and she is the first in her family to choose a career in nursing.
“I probably recited numbers before I knew the alphabet. Everyone in my family has an engineering background, but I knew I wanted to work with children and help people,” Washington said.
She considered teaching but decided that nursing better suited her love of a fast pace, much like her competitive nature to sail over the hurdles. Washington has family in the area but was still a little nervous moving away from home and childhood friends.
“I roomed with another track teammate and quickly made friends,” she said. “Our nursing cohort is so close, and we are all friends. We are super connected both in and outside of the classroom.”
They often will take breaks between classes or after a test to get food, hang out and study.
“It’s like a crazy bond we have, because no one is going through the same thing you are, especially in clinicals,” she said. “I love my track teammates, but they have a hard time relating to an 8-hour clinical experience. Some of my cohort may be in the same patient room experiencing a life-changing event, and we get a chance to talk about it afterward.”
Washington said she and another SON track teammate were “voluntold” they would be part of their cohort’s team participating in UAB’s most unique tradition, the Gurney Derby, where students race a hospital gurney down the road during Homecoming Week. Their team earned first place in the competition.
“It was really fun being there and hearing everyone scream from the sideline as we were running. I think track prepared me because I was able to get in the zone and give my all so that we could win the race,” Washington said.
Balancing her time between training, competitions, academics and clinicals takes a lot of planning and communication. Washington is in constant communication with her instructors and coaches.
“Every week I send a text with my schedule with class, meets, practice and clinical times. It can be stressful trying to do all of it and I try to find joy in the little things. I go on walks a lot. Sometimes I just need a little brain break to reorganize my thoughts,” she said.
She recently discovered a love for baking and took some of her cake pops to her clinical for her classmates and clinical instructors who appreciated her passions. She also finds joy in drawing and coloring. She recalled a day in a unit at Children’s of Alabama where she was spending time with a young patient coloring. When he asked for help, it reminded her how important it is to just slow down and enjoy something simple like coloring.
Looking back on her time in nursing school, she has some advice for students.
“I think the biggest thing is to believe in yourself. There have been so many times before a really big task or test I might feel anxious or have a lot of emotions,” she said. “I have to stop myself and say to myself ‘I have studied. I have prepared, and I know what I am doing.’”
She recently was selected to receive a Daisy Foundation Extraordinary Nursing Student Award. One of the nomination letters said, “Taylor is an amazing nursing student, and she is great with everyone. She’s very kind and attentive. She never fails to bring positivity and joy around her.”
“I was so excited to hear that I won,” Washington said. “Everyone wants to win a DAISY award. And it’s such a cool pin. It’s nice to know that people can see that you’re working hard and trying to provide excellent care,” she said.
Washington said the award also was validation that nursing is what she is supposed to be doing even with all of the scheduling, and running back and forth between practice, meets and clinicals. It adds another layer to the encouragement she has received from administrators, teammates, classmates and instructors.
Washington plans to stay in Birmingham after May graduation and has accepted a job at Children’s of Alabama in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, where she is currently precepting.
“I got my dream job,” she said.