Through the Student Lens – The journey to nursing excellence begins
Eoin Morrissey ’27
Watertown, Massachusetts
Major: Nursing / Concentration: Healthcare Administration
What is it like to be a student in Wheaton College’s inaugural nursing program? Meet one of the bright and engaging nursing majors taking part in this historic first for the college as you take a look “Through the Student Lens.”
1. What interested you about nursing as a major and when was the moment you knew Wheaton was the nursing school for you?
I always knew that I wanted a career in healthcare and as I have gotten older, I have seen all the opportunities that a major and career in nursing can provide. As a nurse you can be on the frontlines in hospitals; you can do nursing research to improve the practices of the profession; or you can educate the next generation of nurses.
Nursing has endless possibilities that can take you around the world, because good healthcare is something all people need. My goal in life is just to help others and developing a career in healthcare is a great way to do that.
I knew that Wheaton’s nursing program was for me after I met the great nursing staff and saw the brand new facilities that have been put in place. The Nursing department has been great since the moment I met them. They are constantly there to support my fellow students and me. Their enthusiasm is infectious and it has made me excited to come to class every day and learn.
2. What is it like being part of Wheaton’s inaugural nursing program class and between the state-of-the-art facility and attentive faculty, do you feel you have been set up for success?
Being a part of the inaugural class at Wheaton is really exciting because we are paving the way for many students who will come after us and we are getting to help build the program from the ground up. I truly feel like I am a part of a team striving toward the same goal of success for the program.
Success for the program means success for my classmates and me. I definitely feel like I have been set up for success within the nursing program. There are so many cool lab spaces to take part in hands-on activities for learning. Our professors are all experienced in the field of nursing and are really passionate about helping people as well as teaching the next generation of nursing students.
3. What excites you most about nursing in the next three years at Wheaton and will the program allow you to travel abroad?
I am most excited about the simulation labs that we will be learning in. The equipment we will be using is top of the line and it will allow us to simulate many scenarios that we will see in the workforce. I am also excited for our study abroad opportunities in the summers between semesters. The nursing program has study abroad experiences planned for the 2025 and 2026 summers. We will be able to learn and work in hospitals all over the world while being able to see the many differences in healthcare. This excites me because I will be able to see others ideas on best medical practices and hopefully implement those in my own career.
4. The nursing curriculum is based on a foundation of social justice and global health. How have you seen social justice brought into the classroom?
My professors have emphasized the word equity in the classroom so far during my time at Wheaton. I have learned that some people need more support when it comes to their health and that it is our job as nurses to provide that equitable care. The Wheaton nursing program has shown me that as a nurse you have to be able to accommodate people’s differences and be able to work around them. It is our job as nurses to make sure that everyone in our care gets the best care we can give them.
5. How have you connected with other nursing students and what activities are you a part of on campus?
I’ve connected with the other students through our time in the classroom together and also through the different events that the nursing department has put together such as a holiday party. I am also now involved in the Student Nurses Association at Wheaton which is a newly-formed club this year. The club has allowed me to get more involved in the nursing program and it excites me greatly for the next three years.
I am also on the varsity men’s basketball team here at Wheaton. I love playing basketball and have been playing since I was in elementary school. The support we get from the Wheaton community has been great and we have about a month left in our season. Our goal is to win the NEWMAC Championship and make the NCAA tournament.
Being involved in multiple activities on campus has kept me very busy but I have enjoyed it immensely due to all the great people I have met along the way.
Eoin is just one of the many engaging students here at Wheaton. As parents, guardians, and families you are an integral part of our community. “Through the Student Lens” brings the campus to you, as seen through the eyes of our students, the many roles they play and the experiences they gain during their time here at Wheaton.