New nurse excels with UC Davis MEPN

Angelica Gales, a 2017 alumna of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing entry-level master’s-degree nursing program, now works at UC San Diego Health.

After working with Angelica Gales, colleagues are stunned to learn she is a new nurse. Yet, she graduated in December 2017 from the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and began work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at UC San Diego Health less than six months later.

“Once you see these babies who are less than one pound eventually go home, it does something for you,” Angelica says. “They are miracles and it’s a blessing to help them grow, go home and thrive.”

“Because of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, I’m a nurse who sees beyond the bedside to best advocate for patients and families.”

Angelica credits her confidence in caring for these patients and their families to what she learned in the entry-level program at UC Davis.  From clinical instructors who are school alumni to clinical rotations at UC Davis Medical Center, the mentorship and exposure she gained offered valuable insight.

“My NICU preceptor took me under her wing. If there was a special case or a learning opportunity, she sought it out for my benefit,” Angelica recalls. “Now, when an unusual case comes in, chances are I’ve already seen it. It’s familiar, not shocking, so I’m able to go straight to work. That sets me apart from other recent grads.”

Angelica knew for many years that she’d be a registered nurse someday. What she didn’t know was that her experience at the UC Davis School of Nursing would prepare her to see beyond the patient in front of her and work as the member of a larger health care team.

“We were taught to think about how societal, cultural and economic influences play a role in our patients’ health,” Angelica says. “We’ve also had the chance to work with nurse practitioners, medical students and physician assistants, which made me more comfortable working in a team from the start. Because of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, I’m a nurse who sees beyond the bedside to best advocate for patients and families.”

Are you interested in applying to the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing? If so, you can learn more on the program web pages. Prospective students may also sign up for the school’s email group to receive regular updates about the school’s graduate degree programs.