UArizona Nursing Class of 2021: Alisa Caballero
May 17, 2021
Meet University of Arizona Nursing student Alisa Caballero, who graduated on May 15 with her Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing. Fueled by a passion for health equity, she enters the nursing workforce invigorated by her studies and ready to make a difference in the world of health care.
In April, along with fellow students Sydney Mobley, Francesco Nunez, and Julia Shoemake, Alisa presented her health education project, “Anxiety and Resources” via Google Classroom to students at Pima Vocational High School. The interactive presentation was so well-received by the high school students that the instructor requested a copy of the project so she could share with it others.
“To me, being a Wildcat nurse is about using the abundance of knowledge I have gained in the past four semesters and going into the field of nursing feeling confident that I have what it takes to be a great nurse...I am so excited to see the differences we all make in health care,” ~ Alisa Caballero, Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing Graduate
Why did you choose to pursue a career in nursing?
I chose to pursue nursing because it is a field that reaches so many people of different backgrounds and cultures, which was very important to me in choosing a career. I would love to make a difference in people’s lives every day, and I am beyond grateful to have chosen a field that allows me to do so.
Why did you choose UArizona Nursing to pursue your studies?
I’m from Gilbert, Ariz., so the University of Arizona is the perfect distance away from home, not too far and not too close. Not to mention, the nursing program here is very rigorous and because of this I feel very prepared to enter the world as a new nurse.
Can you describe how the "Anxiety and Resources" education project came about?
In our community health nursing class, we were divided into groups and tasked with creating a project that addressed the needs of a specific Census Tract, or community, in Tucson. My group and I interviewed the admissions coordinator at a vocational high school in our community and found that many high schoolers in the area struggle with mental health and a lack of community resources. Thus, we created a presentation covering information on anxiety, coping mechanisms to deal with anxiety, as well as virtual and in-person mental health resources. About a month ago, our group had the privilege to present this project to a high school class over Google Classroom to wrap up our education project.
What are your biggest takeaways from doing this project?
Through the creation of this project, I have learned the importance of nursing not only in the hospital, but in the community as well. Nursing is all about preventing illness and promoting health and wellbeing, and the best way to do this is by reaching out to community members and addressing what they need to stay healthy both physically and mentally.
What does it mean to you to be a Wildcat Nurse?
To me, being a Wildcat nurse is about using the abundance of knowledge I have gained in the past four semesters and going into the field of nursing feeling confident that I have what it takes to be a great nurse. Words cannot express how thankful I am to be a part of such an intelligent, supportive group of soon-to-be nurses, and I am so excited to see the differences we all make in health care.
What are your plans for the future?
As of now, I am counting down the days until graduation, soon after which I will schedule my NCLEX date. After passing the NCLEX, I hope to have a job somewhere on the East Coast, ideally as a pediatric nurse. I also hope to become a nurse practitioner in the future, but for now, I’m looking forward to being at the bedside and helping as many patients and families as I possibly can.