Meet Briana Hawkins, a nursing student at Kent State University at Stark
Briana Hawkins is on a path to a great future starting with graduating from Kent State University in 2025 and earning a bachelor's degree in nursing.
“I plan to stay local and work in the hospital as a bedside nurse to get experience,” she said. “Eventually, I want to become a perioperative nurse or an ER nurse. I like to see different things and I feel as though these departments will allow me to do so. I shadowed in the OR (operating room) and I liked seeing the different surgeries and operations the surgeons performed.”
Hawkins is a 2021 graduate from McKinley Senior High School. She decided to major in nursing at Kent State University at Stark and applied to the nursing program in 2022.
She was born in Alliance and has lived in the Canton area for several years and the Massillon/Perry Township area for about two years. She lives with her mother Jessica and younger sister Briasia. They have a guinea pig named Chip that Hawkins said “is very spoiled.”
She has a wonderful philosophy for success.
“You must remember why you are trying to succeed," Hawkins said. "When you have that reminder of why you are working so hard to achieve something, it keeps you going. I think what keeps me going is knowing that one day I will be able to help take care of people.
"Plus, I’ll be able to provide for myself and hopefully my family one day. I know right now I am going to give back to my mom for supporting me through college. She keeps me going and so does my dream of becoming a passionate future nurse. You will hit a couple of bumps in the road but you just have to keep your reason for accomplishing your dreams close.”
5 questions with Hannah Moyer: She started a coffee company in North Canton during the pandemic
Why did you decide to become a nurse?
I like how complex the human body is. It is very interesting how everything comes together to make the body function.
The body is all about having balance and staying stable. If one system is off in the body, then it can disrupt other systems.
This is why I enjoy learning about caring for the human body and how we as nurses can help patients become well. I can learn about the body and use my knowledge to help provide care for patients. But nurses don't just take care of patients. We listen to their concerns and advocate for them.
What is your typical day like attending classes for nursing?
I have classes two times a week and it differs each day. I have my "Nursing of Adults Across the Lifespan" lecture first. In this class, we learn about the different body systems and the diseases within them.
We learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of the diseases and the treatment options we as nurses will provide.
My next class for the day is "Pharmacology," where we learn about different medications for diseases and how they work in the body.
After my classes, I usually spend my time in the library studying for upcoming exams or preparing for clinicals. I only have a clinical once a week, but I enjoy going to the hospital and being able to practice skills we learned about in class. This semester I got to insert an IV on a patient and that was very exciting!
Where do you hope to start your career?
I would like to gain some experience as a bedside nurse in a local hospital for at least one year. I think as a floor nurse that is where a nurse gets to build their critical thinking skills the most. You see a lot of different things while working on the floor.
Then I want to transition into perioperative nursing. I like how the nurse can still be a part of caring for the patient even when the surgeon is operating on them. I look at the nurse as being the patient's advocate for them when they aren't conscious (due to anesthesia).
I plan to go back to school to get my master's degree in nursing. I want to become a nursing instructor or start a program to get students interested in the nursing field.
You recently received some assistance from The Emergency Relief Fund at Kent State at Stark, would you share what that fund is all about and the circumstances behind your assistance?
The fund offers assistance to students during times of emergency. Last December, my mom was in a burn accident, and she was hospitalized at the Akron Children's Hospital Burn Unit.
This meant she would be out of work for a while as she healed. I was a full-time student and I only worked once a week. I knew that wouldn't be enough to help cover the rent, bills and food. Even though I was hesitant, I reached out to see if there were resources available and sure enough my school told me I could apply for the fund.
This fund allowed me to continue pursuing my education while providing financial support to my family. We will always be grateful for the emergency fund because it helped provide stability during a hard time. I got to be there for my mom and sister instead of worrying about how basic needs were going to be met.
One for fun: What are a few of your favorite places to visit in Stark County when you have the time?
I usually spend most of my free time going to Target in the Belden Village area. I love to shop there, and I am there all the time.
A new place opened up near me called 7 Brew Coffee and I always stop there to grab a raspberry green tea. I enjoy going to Meyers Landing Bar & Grill because the atmosphere there is amazing. I enjoy laughing with friends there while we play pool.
I also like visiting Table Six to grab dinner when free because their loaded mac and cheese is awesome!
Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Briana Hawkins is a nursing student at Kent State University at Stark
