When Matthew Fowler was a sophomore in high school, his mother underwent heart surgery.
He observed the nurses, who worked with both intelligence and kindness. The experience inspired him to choose nursing as his career.
鈥淭he nurses kept me and my sister informed about my mom鈥檚 recovery, which was very comforting in a scary situation,鈥� says Fowler. 鈥淚 decided then that I wanted to become a pillar for patients and families.鈥�
Fowler pursued his dream by entering the Solomont School of Nursing聽B.S. program. He graduated in May 2018 with experiences working in Boston鈥檚 world-renowned teaching hospitals. And he acquired skills, confidence and knowledge about specialties that appealed to him.
鈥淢y most memorable experience was at Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital on the gastroenterology medical surgical floor,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 saw some very sick children, but they didn鈥檛 seem to realize how sick they were. I want to go into pediatrics to help these kids get better so that they can live a healthy, normal life.鈥�
During his senior year, Fowler learned something new every day working at Boston Medical Center in the medical ICU/cardiac care unit.聽
鈥淚 loved the one-to-one patient-to-nurse ratio and how complicated the cardiac patients were,鈥� he says.
With the hands-on experience, course work and the support of faculty, Fowler feels well-prepared to begin his career. He鈥檚 confident about taking the upcoming National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).
鈥淢y experience here at UML has been nothing but positive,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he nursing professors are unbelievable. They have put me in various situations to learn what it鈥檚 like to be a nurse. They understood the stresses of nursing school and would often talk to us about the struggles and offered solutions and help.鈥�