Caroline Naylor RN, ’24
Nursing Alumni Shines in Neuroscience ICU
Throughout nursing school, I held positions as a CNA in Intensive Care Units at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as Brigham and Women’s hospital. Specifically, both were in cardiac surgery and cardiology critical care units. These experiences were crucial to my nursing career, where I really valued and learned the basics of nursing practice. Here, I also found myself passionate about intensive care, where I developed a love to critically think, solve problems, and work in high-intensity environments. But most of all, I was grateful to practice and hone my nurse to patient relationship, to provide the best care relationships for my patients and families.
My senior capstone practicum was in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It exceeded all my expectations and truly solidified my passion for intensive care. I put together everything I had learned in the past four years, and my excitement about becoming my own practicing nurse grew. This was an amazing opportunity and I cannot emphasize enough the foundation it created for me. I was pushed out of my comfort zone while communicating with providers, managing multiple vasoactive medications, mechanically ventilated patients and 2 patients at once alongside my wonderful preceptor. Everything really clicked here, and I am grateful for this opportunity.
“I loved every part of the Merrimack nursing program. The faculty, the structure, the courses and the clinical rotations truly made me feel the most prepared. In the last two years, utilizing the ATI software and benchmark exams for each course kept me aware and motivated, which gave me targeted and specific feedback that truly excelled my coursework.”
Since September 2021, I have served as an elected board member on the Curriculum/Simulation Committee, where I review the Department of Nursing’s Mission Statement and assess our section of the systematic evaluation plan. I also served on the simulation committee. Both roles included collaborating with faculty, analyzing educational outcomes, identifying areas for curriculum improvement, and auditing course content to ensure comprehensive coverage of nursing concepts. Simultaneously, as a Nursing Program Mentor, I support and advise nursing student mentees both on-site and remotely. I conducted regular 1:1 meetings to discuss program details, addressed questions, and provided guidance on classroom tasks, aiming to facilitate their academic and professional development effectively. I was also involved in the Spin classes that Merrimack FitRec offered. It was a great opportunity to listen to music, exercise and be with my friends!
