Niall came to Humber primarily because he was tired of feeling like a number.
“I always knew I wanted to go into medicine, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” says Niall, who went to West Humber Collegiate – a short walk from Humber College. “I decided to go to university for life science. Going into my first year, I was excited – but then I quickly realized that a lot of the classes were huge. You got totally lost in the crowd.”
Niall decided to investigate his options beyond a university setting, and chose to go to school a little closer to home: Humber’s Bachelor of Nursing program.
“I applied, I got in, and I really, really love the program. Nursing is my passion now!”
The fourth-year student says that what he really appreciates is the opportunity to apply what he’s learning to real-world situations.
“A lot of what you learn in university is all theory – here, you learn the theory, but then you get to apply it. I actually get to practice the knowledge I’ve gained.”
Humber’s nursing program, which is a partnership with the University of New Brunswick, ensures students get plenty of practical experience through clinical placements, which start in the second semester of first year. Humber also has a state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Learning Centre, where students experience different scenarios they might not see in a clinical placement.
One of Niall’s best experiences at Humber so far has been a month-long placement at an addiction clinic in London, England.
“We got a chance to expand our experience – to see how to work with clients with addictions, a different healthcare system, and how different nursing training can be. Our profs were great – they set us up with instructors, who we shadowed. “
Niall also enjoys contributing to the College community as a member of the Humber Nursing Society, organizing fundraisers, raising awareness about issues like HIV, and setting up a mentoring program between first-year and upper-year students.
“Humber’s program attracts a very diverse population,” explains Niall. “There are all different ages, people from other countries, people requalifying – we’re all learning from each other.”
