About Me
My name is Tegan Pennington, and I am a traditional BSN Junior at the University of Florida's College of Nursing. I have an interest in women's health and labor and delivery. Some clinical activities I have completed include experiences in oncology, rehabilitation, labor and delivery, and pediatrics. I plan on going to graduate school to become a nurse practitioner after I complete my undergraduate bachelor's in nursing degree in Spring of 2019.
I am involved in numerous other activities outside of nursing school. Most notably, I have been an avid musician since I was seven years of age playing both cello and piano. To continue making music throughout my college years, I joined Sigma Alpha Iota, a music fraternity for women, during my freshman year at the University of Florida. I continue to be highly active in this organization and held the officer position of recording secretary for the past year. I am also involved in other volunteer efforts related to music such as the Arts in Medicine program at Shands. We often put on concerts in the main atrium for the patients and employees who wander through while we are performing.
Why did you decide to go to nursing school?
I decided to go to nursing school after my experiences volunteering in clinics while I was an intern for the Neuromedicine Interdisciplinary Clinical and Academic Program (NICAP). Before this point in my life, I was unsure about the exact roles that nurses played in the healthcare setting compared to doctors, physician assistants, and patient care assistants. This experience volunteering allowed me to see firsthand the vital role that nurses play in a patient's care. I realized that I wanted to be on the front lines and have as much patient interaction as possible. I also appreciate the flexibility of nursing. I like variety and the ability to move around through different units to see different types of patients.
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Why did you decide to attend the Grenada spring break trip?
As I progressed throughout my first year of nursing school, I learned a lot in my classes about healthcare in the United States as a whole. I found myself wondering about the differences between nursing in the United States versus other countries. Nursing has been voted the most trusted profession in the United States for the past 18 years in a row. Do members of other cultures and communities view nursing in the same high regard? When I heard about the UF Nursing in Grenada trip, I knew that it would be a fantastic opportunity to witness first hand how nursing differed in another country. I had never been outside the country besides on a cruise ship, so I eagerly ordered my passport and made arrangements to attend the trip. Fortunately, I was not wrong. The experiences I have had in Grenada have changed my perception of nursing forever, and I could not be more happy that I decided to visit.
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