Critical-thinking education breeds confidence on the job

Robin Fuller, a 2018 alumna of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis Master’s Entry Program in Nursing, shares how UC Davis prepared her for a career in nursing.

Nurse Robin Fuller is a Class of 2018 graduate of the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing.

Amid the daily emergencies and unknown cases, registered nurse Robin Fuller sets herself apart from other nurses in her cardiac care unit. She credits that recognition and her confidence to critical-thinking skills she learned at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.

Fuller said UC Davis also prepared her for the complexity of interdisciplinary health care.

“Learning alongside nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical students, social workers and seasoned nurses, I came out with a clear picture of the different roles and how people work together,” said the 2018 alumna of the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing. “As a nurse, I do so many tasks to do but none are in a vacuum.”

Fuller’s on-the-job preparation and performance have others taking note of how Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing graduates are different. It’s an accomplishment not lost on her at all.

“Recently I had to give the same report to multiple people during a scary and intense situation. I was surprised how I didn’t feel overly nervous when communicating and interacting with everyone on the team,” Fuller said. “We’re really trained to be critical thinkers and next-level nurses. That was such a great education.”

Also known as an accelerated program, this 18-month master’s-degree program offers the quickest route to registered nursing licensure for adults who already completed an undergraduate degree in another discipline and also completed prerequisite courses to transition into the nursing profession.

“Being able to get through a master’s-level nursing program while a single mom, it is my biggest life achievement,” Fuller said. “I know if I put my mind to just about anything, I can do it. The whole journey was really worth it.”

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.