The excitement of freshman year

Idalis Figueroa is a freshman nursing student whose hometown is Stamford, Connecticut.  She knew nursing was her calling since she was a junior in high school, and hopes that one day she may become a labor and delivery nurse. “I adore babies, but also love the idea of having two patients, and having the opportunity to comfort and support expectant mothers and families during such an exciting time in life. I definitely hope to further my nursing education and potentially pursue a Master’s degree and maybe even be the Nurse Manager or Clinical Specialist of my unit someday,” she explains. Idalis knew Villanova was the place she wanted to grow as a nursing student after she fell in love with the “amazing community atmosphere” combined with the prestige and excellence of the nursing program. 

Idalis has loved her time at Villanova thus far; she says, “I have met some of my best friends, been given great opportunities both in and out of the classroom, and enjoyed joining the Nova Nation in 2016, the year the men’s basketball team won the NCAA tournament.” She is also relishing new experiences as a nursing student; she spent time this year learning to take vital signs, one of the hallmarks of nursing practice, and calls it one of the most exciting experiences of her first-year nursing education.

Idalis serves as the freshman representative for Villanova’s chapter of the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP-Villanova), and the experience has shaped her professional development.  She notes, “As the freshman representative, I have gotten to serve on our local chapter’s executive board and develop necessary leadership skills that will help me in all of my future endeavors. I have been so fortunate to attend the State SNAP Convention in Lancaster this past November, the David R. Ranck LEAD Workshop in Harrisburg, and will serve as a delegate at the National Student Nursing Association (NSNA) Convention in Dallas, Texas this April. My attendance at these conferences has allowed me to network with some of the best nursing professionals in the country and meet some great mentors.” Idalis is also involved in many other campus activities, including the Blue Key Society, Villanova’s Special Olympics Fall Festival, and the Villanova chapter of the Chi Omega sorority, where she serves on the Philanthropic cabinet, supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

“It is so hard to believe that my freshman year is almost done, and although I have been warned that time flies, I did not realize how true it is,” Idalis says.  What is she looking forward to in the future? Spending time in the hospital. She can’t wait to gain clinical experience, and will be spending time volunteering at Stamford Hospital this summer in preparation for beginning her clinical experience next year.