Anne Carrigg ’24
Why UNE
I chose to come to UNE because I could see myself making connections with faculty and peers. I knew I could get the support I needed and could ask a lot of questions. No one gets lost in the crowd here. Nursing school can be challenging, so I knew while searching for colleges that it would be very important that I found a place where my professors would know my name and would want to see me succeed.
And, of course, you can’t beat the location of the two campuses. I mean, [the campuses] are stunning. I really like how the first two-years of the [nursing] program are on the Biddeford campus. Everything you need as an undergraduate is right there – the dining hall and central buildings – and tons of space for recreation along the coast. Then, [the final two years] of the program take place on the Portland campus, where you study with other [health professions and] graduate students. You kind of get the best of both as a nursing student.
The Portland campus is also so close to Maine Med, which I believe is the largest medical facility in ME, NH, and VT. Having all the resources and connections there is great.
Exceptional Teaching and Learning
[UNE Nursing] faculty have so much experience as practicing nurses and teaching professors. The faculty really sets you up well and supports you throughout your nursing education. I have gained a great basis of knowledge through my classes.
As nursing students [at UNE], we are able to learn hands-on through our simulation and skills labs. This practice is beneficial before heading into clinicals in the hospital, where we have to care for real people.
I am a very hands-on learner and need to see things to understand it. So, being able to do dissections of the heart and kidneys – that really helps me visualize what we are going over in lecture. Our skills and simulation labs on the Portland campus have helped me become more confident when having to think on my feet in the hospital.
Interprofessional Learning
Outside of our didactic and lab coursework, there is a large emphasis on interprofessional and clinical learning [within the Nursing program]. During my last semester, we had a simulation activity with the Pharmacy students. It was about a situation where an outbreak happened, and everyone had to get the medication for it. We got to work closely with the Pharmacy students to figure out what our roles would be.