Alexandria Palacios

Registered Nurse

Nursing, B.S. '16

... I learned that spiritual health is so vital in the business of caring for others. I can confidently say I have come out of Biola a stronger Christian, trusting God in everything I do.

How did your program at Biola prepare you for your career?

I am currently in a nurse residency at UCLA Health. I began at this organization as a Clinical Care Partner (CCP) when I was a student at Biola. During my nursing program, my professors emphasized the importance of leadership skills in the workplace. As a CCP, I had the fortunate opportunity to take on a leadership experience on a Unit Practice Council (UPC). After my UPC meetings, I would meet with Professor Campbell and review what projects we were working on. It was her wisdom that helped guide me in this role. Even though my work as a CCP was outside of Biola, my professors still assisted me in any way they could, despite the busy work they had to do at school. I strongly believe it was the support from my professors that helped pave way for my current job as an RN at UCLA.

What did you appreciate most about your time at Biola?

I deeply appreciate the hard work all of my professors put into my education. I could see the hours and quality of work they put in to ensure we were best prepared for real life nursing. Throughout the program, we used the simulation room to create "real life" situations of the clinical setting. I found these to be significantly helpful. I didn't realize how helpful they were till my first week of my nurse residency when we used live actors to simulate clinical situations. I was so prepared!!

How did Biola equip you to be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ?

The Biola nursing program constantly emphasized the importance of spiritual care. I believe this is so important in the field of nursing because of the traumatic experiences we encounter every day. At Biola, I learned that spiritual health is so vital in the business of caring for others. I can confidently say I have come out of Biola a stronger Christian, trusting God in everything I do.

What advice would you give to students considering your degree program?

Always go into every day with an open mind and heart. Nursing is tough, but it's a little bit easier when you trust your professors and seek out help from them. Nursing at Biola is a wonderful decision. They will equip you with all of the right tools (spiritual and educational) to succeed in the clinical setting. Also, learn to be flexible with your schedule. Learning to be flexible early on will help you in the future when you are a nurse.