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Salem State School of Nursing Spotlight: Angel Faria '25

Oct 24, 2024

We asked Angel Faria ’25, who comes to Salem State from Acushnet, about her experience in the Salem State School of Nursing.

Why did you decide to study nursing at Salem State?

“I chose Salem State Nursing because of its strong reputation for hands-on learning and dedicated faculty. I also love the small class sizes allowing better learning and making professors more available. Overall, I felt Salem State nursing would provide the best environment for me to grow both personally and professionally in my nursing career.”

What has been your favorite nursing course at Salem State so far? Who taught it?

“My favorite course so far was med surg with Professor Sheila Perrault, I know it’s a hard course, but it is truly where I learned to grow with the amazing support and guidance from Sheila. She really showed me I was able to survive this hard course with her amazing dedication. “

Have you had any jobs or internships in the nursing field while studying at Salem State?

“I currently do not work within the nursing field, but I do work in a pharmacy where it has helped me so much in understanding pharmacology. I also work at the nursing resource center here on campus while also helping in the simulation labs. It has been so amazing to help the future students with skills I once struggled with and knowing there is another student in the room truly eases the anxiety.”

What kind of nursing career do you plan to pursue? Is there a nursing specialty you are interested in?

 “I plan on pursing pediatrics, where I will attend grad school in the future and get my MSN.  My goal is to teach a clinical group and show other students another side of pediatrics”

Describe your experience in Salem State's School of Nursing. In what ways have your courses prepared you to be a nurse?

 “The professors are all very involved and want all of us to succeed, they also help by showing us the extra resources the school has to offer, whether it’s tutoring, supplemental instruction or extra time within the simulation labs to practice skills. All the professors come with years of experience and dedication to what they are teaching.”

What have you liked most about studying nursing at Salem State?

 “I love the friendships I was able to build along the way within nursing, creating theses friendships has been amazing. Along with how supportive we are of each other and going through the struggles all together. Learning and building my confidence skills has been amazing.”

What has it been like to study and/or work in the nursing field during the COVID-19 pandemic? What challenges have you had to overcome?

 “When I first started here it was all online and I found online learning was the hardest for me. This is the time where I learned how important nurses are and watching them go in and help many patients without really knowing what this virus truly was.”

What do you love most about nursing in general?

“What I love most about nursing is the ability to make a genuine impact on people’s lives. Nurses offer both care and compassion, supporting patients through their toughest moments. The ability to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life, even in small ways, is incredibly powerful.”

What advice would you give to future nursing students?

“To future nursing students, my advice is to stay organized since nursing school is tough. Use a planner of some sort to keep track of deadlines. Build friendships with classmates along with professors, having amazing friends throughout the four years here seriously helps! Take advantage of hands-on experience during clinical, as it helps you apply what you learn in the classroom to real life and build confidence. Always trust yourself even when things get hard, believe in your training and abilities because you can truly make a difference!"

Learn more about nursing at Salem State. 

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