Getting through nursing school is tough, but it’s possible. That’s one of the messages Yodit Tesfaluel hopes to convey to the students she connects with at Warner Pacific University’s skills lab, where she volunteers.
A 2022 graduate, Tesfaluel knows how meaningful that help and encouragement can be.
“There are three professors that played a huge role for me,” Tesfaluel said. “Kyle VanderSchick, Jessica Sandstrom and Fernanda Fortuna. They played such a pivotal role when I was in nursing school.”
Tesfaluel learned about WPU’s nursing program from her mentor while she was at Portland State University. She was in cohort five of the nursing program, so it was still pretty new, she said.
“It was such a diverse group of people,” Tesfaluel said. “I felt so welcomed. It was something way beyond, more than I ever would have dreamed of.”
Her parents were very supportive. She was able to live rent-free at home so she didn’t have that additional stress.
“I volunteered while in school,” Tesfaluel said. “It’s something that I’ve always enjoyed doing—that feeling of just helping other people and getting to know other people. I truly do enjoy it.”
That love of helping grew from her childhood and the example her parents set.
“When I was younger, my parents just did so much stuff in our community; it was just part of our lives,” Tesfaluel said.
Now she works in the ICU and IMCU at Legacy Meridian Park.
“I’ve always enjoyed science and learning about human anatomy,” Tesfaluel said.
As a nurse, she enjoys thinking through the pathology and helping people understand what’s going on with their bodies.
“I really enjoy helping and being there for them,” Tesfaluel said.
She also knows how her presence can put people at ease. Tesfaluel said she’s been very lucky and has always had great experiences with doctors, but she knows that isn’t the experience for a lot of people, including some of her friends.
“(It can help) just to have someone who looks like them and be able to understand (their experience) on a deeper level,” Tesfaluel said.
That sense of being seen and belonging is something she felt as a student at WPU.
“It’s the biggest thing,” she said. “It’s a very welcoming environment, a great community that helps you thrive and be the best version of yourself.”
The nursing program moved to the main campus this term, improving the student experience.
“It’s literally amazing,” Tesfaluel said. “When I was in nursing school, we were offsite. When I first looked at (the new facilities) I was shocked. It gives you an idea of what it looks like in a hospital—the suction canisters, the bed.”
The setup gives students an opportunity to learn how to maneuver around in a hospital room.
“It’s really great,” she said. “It’s going to be super helpful to the cohort currently and the future ones. It’s a huge benefit to everyone.”