Student Spotlight: Iliamna O'Malley advances her nursing education with support from RRANN
by Jessica Degnan |
Iliamna O'Malley, a School of Nursing student, shares her start as a CNA and gratitude for the support she's received from the Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN) program.
Name: Iliamna O'Malley
Major: BSN
Anticipated graduation date: 2025
Unit: School of Nursing
Hometown: Fairbanks
What brought you to the UAA College of Health?:
I wanted to become a nurse, and was already a part of UAF, so I accessed student resources in Fairbanks. Long story short, I am Alaska native so my previous advisor reccomended that I contact RRANN. RRANN helped me apply to UAA and has helped me every step of the way since I first contacted them. They are why I came to the UAA College of Health.
Why did you choose the degree you are pursuing? What would your dream job be?:
I knew that I wanted to work in the healthcare field but was not sure exactly what I wanted to do. So I sort of took a leap in and I worked for my CNA license and found I loved that. So I decided that I should try to do more with my education and job. So then, about 6 years later, I finished all my prerequisites, received help from RRANN, and applied to UAA's BSN program. Now I am almost one semester into the BSN program. As for my dream job, I actually want to get my Doctorate in Nursing Science, with a focus in psychiatric mental health. There are many paths I could take to get there, but my end goal is that. I really just want to work in behavioral health field and physically work in Alaska. For personal reasons, I am passionate about mental health in Alaska and genuinely hope to make a difference. I believe we need more behavioral healthcare across Alaska and hope that I can be apart of that.
What are you involved in on campus (IE: Clubs, student organizations, etc.)? How have they contributed to your personal and professional growth?:
I am involved with RRANN. Since being accepted to the BSN program, all I do is study. RRANN helps me in so many ways. They have given me study tools, provided nursing study specific tutors, and have helped me find resources as I have needed them. They check in with me to just see how I am doing, and honestly it really makes me feel like Iam not alone, that I have people who are really there just to help and support me. They really nice thing about all of their help and support is that even though I am on a completely different campus, they still have so many online trainings, activities, and events, so I still benefit from their support services. RRANN has really made a huge impact in my life and education. I truly appreciate them and what they do.
Have you been involved with internships, practicum placements, research, study abroad, or any other experience you’d like to tell us about? Please tell us how these experiences have shaped you personally, academically, and professionally.:
I have not been involved in any of these yet, I am putting all of my effort into this first semester of the BSN program, so I have no time for anything else. I have stopped working, because the amount of studying and classwork I do just takes all of my time and energy. That is why I appreciate RRANN so much. They take some of the burden away. For example, this semester I have to take Pathophysiology, I received a failing grade on my second exam (just barely but a D is a D no matter how close to a C it is), and I panicked. I never fail, and it hit hard. I contacted me Professor but also RRANN. RRANN immediately contacted me back, set me up with tutoring services, set me study aids and checked in with me constantly. Unrelated to this incident, they had a event on how to study and different ways to study. I used what I learned from that as well. I have never had to study this way before, so pathophysiology was a huge learning curve for me. My very next exam I recieve an 86/100 and then my most recent I received a 90/100. I truly appreciate the help I received from RRANN, and honestly I do not know if I would have figured out how to come back from a failed exam without them.
What words of wisdom do you have for underclassmen or youth who are still considering their options after high school?:
Get in contact with advisors at colleges. Every college has them. If you think you want to work in healthcare, contact a healthcare advisor, if you want to work in a trade contract an trade advisor.
Colleges have general advisors, they are wonderful, but they won't have the answers you need if you don't know what you want to do. If you contact a more specific advisor, they can answer questions you have about specific fields of education. They are more knowledgeable in their fields than a general advisor would be. Like how there is the UAA College of Health, if you know you want to work in healthcare or think you would, contact them. They want more students, they want to help you, they will not get their feelings just if you decide that it isn't the career for you.
Look at the college website career catalog and see what interests you. There is absolutely nothing to lose in doing so.
Just reach out to a advisor and say or email something like, " Hi my name is... and I think I am interested in working in healthcare (whatever field interests you). I am blank years old, I am graduating this year, and I was wondering what should I do from here. I want to start my college life with a path to follow, but am unsure on what path to take. I looked at the career catalog and am interested in these.....". You can even do this with a general advisor.
Advisors help you find resources and other people to talk to. If they do not have the answer they will find someone who does. Advisors are the best resources to have, because they are the people who are meant to show you where to go. If you changed your mind one month before graduating from a program, they wouldn't care. They would support you and your decision and ask you what do you want to do from here.
If you don't know what you want to do at all, don't worry, once you apply to a college a general advisor automatically reaches out. So just go from there. Just remember, in the future, to find an advisor specific to your interests if you ever think that you know what you want to do.
What did you want to do when you were 10? Why?:
I wanted to be a marine biologist, because I grew up in villages and small towns on costal Alaska. I grew up playing on the beaches and loved the ocean. So I wanted to study sea creatures and critters.
What was your favorite class while here at UAA, and why?:
My favorite class was probably my Chemistry classes. I know that is more than one class, but I loved the science classes I have taken. I remember loving all of those, I just was always very engaged and never felt reluctant to attend.
What is a cause you care about?:
I wouldn't necessarily call it a cause, but RRANN has helped me so much that I hope to be a part of it even after I finish my nursing degrees. They stand for the Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing. The program exists with the purpose to recruit and mentor Alaska Native/American Indian students to pursue nursing degrees. Alaska needs nurses, and it would be amazing to have more representation within that field. Showing adults and children that there is a need and a want for Alaska Native/American Indian Nurses can encourage them to make that jump into the healthcare world. I am 28, it took me this long to get into the BSN program because financially I couldn't do it. I'm have family, bill's, and prior obligations in life. As an Alaska Native myself, I want to encourage and help other Alaska Natives and American Indians, of all ages, to pursue their education. So because of that, I admire and respect RRANN.
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?:
I am not physically at the Anchorage location, so I do not have on campus access. Although, I would assume that I would love the library. I did a virtual tour of it and it looked really peaceful.
Who is your favorite professor or staff member and why?:
Elizabeth and RaLyssa are my favorite. They work for RRANN and they are my rocks. I can email, call, and even text them if I need or want to talk to them. I just appreciate them and all they do so much.
What is your favorite memory from your time here at UAA?:
Getting accepted into the BSN program! I was so happy!
What is your plan after graduation?:
My plan after getting my BSN is to work for a bit, but to continue my education in my nursing career.
What is your favorite quote? Why?:
"Today is a good day to try. " - Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
I take it as a way to make the most of today and to not look at tomorrow for answers.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?:
My favorite hobbies are, spending time with my dogs, playing video gamesb with my husband, cooking, baking, and going on nature walks,
Tell us about an obstacle you overcame.:
I worked since I was 14, and used that money to move to Fairbanks to pursue an education. Once I turned 25 I was able to recieve scholarships and financial aid. I am now 28 and in my first year of the BSN program. So my biggest obstacle was financial. Financially I was on my own. Once I was able to recieve aid and help, my education flew by.
What is your secret to college success?:
Support, having support from friends or family and having inside college support like how RRANN has supported and helped me.
What has been your happiest/proudest moment?:
I have many in my life, but my happiest moment was when my husband and I took our honeymoon. We got married February 2020, right before Alaska and the world shut down for COVID. It was a struggle for us financially in those few years, but December 2022 we went to Disney World which is kind of silly I know but it was wonderful. All we did was focus on us. We just had fun and it was wonderful.