Faces of US: Ashley Watters – The Free Press of the University of Southern Maine

By: Lillian Lema, Staff Writer

At a young age USM student Ashley Watters knew that she wanted to go into the nursing field due to her upbringing. Growing up in a low-income family, Watters was a witness to the hardships her family faced on not being able to advocate for their health concerns and therefore, not seek to improve it. She would try to inspire them to better their health, but her efforts werent enough as her family wasnt passionate about changing their health habits. It was important to me that people were doing the best for their health and I wanted to continue to do that, but with people that are coming to me for that help with someone who actually wants it and who is willing to work at it, the junior nursing student said.

Watters has enjoyed hands-on learning since grade school and has been passionate about improving peoples quality of life. During high school, she worked at the South Portland Nursing Home where she assisted elders with their everyday activities and meal prep. I know how easy it is to improve someones quality of life just by telling them to drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, or just by listening to them, Watters said.

Right before starting the nursing program at USM, Watters was anxious on how she would manage being, both a full-time student and an employee pursuing a demanding major. For a moment she doubted her capability and ability, but then remembered how in her high school years she had to be an adult at a young age. Just being a child with low social-economics I was able to manage more on my plate then most people, she said. Throughout high school, Watters worked at McDonalds and the South Portland Nursing Home for about thirty to thirty-five hours a week. She would leave school around 2pm and then head straight to work and at times would be late for sport practices, which would cause her to get scolded by her coaches and cause her to get less playing time. If you dont have to do it then youre not going to, but in high school I had to do it so I did, Watters said. If I wanted to go to prom and buy a prom dress if I wanted to go out to eat with friends, go on field trips, buy equipment for sports, or even dinner I needed to go to work.

Although her high school days are long and gone, her work ethic hasnt changed at all. Watters works as a full-time phlebotomist for the American Red Cross and her weekly schedule looks like the following:

Monday: study, class 1:15pm-3:15pm, study, class 4:10pm-7pm

Tuesday: Clinical 6am-3pm

Wednesday: study, lab 12:30pm-4:30pm, dinner & study

Thursday: partnership 8am-12pm, study

Friday: Work 615am-430pm, study

Saturday: work 615am-430pm, study

Sunday: work 615am-430pm, study

Watters jokes that she uses her meal time to socialize with friends. I tell them that if they want to see me then, they need to come over for dinner, she said. However, during the COVID-19 breakout Watters has remained isolated and had to stop socializing with friends and loved ones.

During our health crisis as a nursing student, it feels like I am so close to being a helping hand, but its unfortunate that I cant help right now, she said. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 Watters states that her workplace has become busier than ever and all her classes have been moved to online. According to Watters, nursing students need clinical experience in order to graduate and the nursing faculty will be using a virtual simulation lab to replace in-person clinical experience. This has been done before, and it even resulted in a 100% pass success rate for the NCLEX, she said.

As a nursing student at USM, Watters feels that she wasnt prepared for the current pandemic. But at the same time, she acknowledges that USM isnt at complete fault because this countrys health care system and the government didnt do their job in preparing the public for the severeness of this pandemic. We should have taken more precautions right away we as a nation acted really slowly on the pandemic, Watters said. The health care system should be prepared before even the schools are and the government plays a big role in the preparation of that.

It is during times like these, that Watters and her classmates are proud and grateful for going into the nursing field. Last week, the nursing students had a virtual meeting where they were given more information on COVID-19. In the meeting, Watters and her classmates were encouraged to feel like warriors and heroes.

Watters advises everyone to stay isolated so that we can get through these tough times faster and protect one another. For those who work in essential jobs, she recommends taking precautions by hand washing for at least 20 seconds, covering ones mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and staying home if one has a temperature greater than 95 F. I know there is a lot of worry for those who are less fortunate with their health, goods, and services, however, we can help by donating to nonprofits and by sharing information to the public, Watters said.

She advises nursing students to be comfortable with adaptation because change is inevitable and sometimes that change can affect every aspect of ones life. If we get too comfortable change can become so overwhelming that it can cripple us from achieving a functioning lifestyle. As a nurse its important to be ready for dramatic changes in our patients health status, as well, Watters said.

Although Watters still has a year before she graduates she is excited for the next steps in her career field. She plans to go into the intensive care unit for a few years and focus on geriatrics. Then, she would like to go to graduate school to be either a cardiac or anesthesias nurse.

Looking back at her educational career and life, Watters acknowledges that it is her hard work ethic that has helped her get to where she is today. I tell myself to go above and beyond because if we go above and beyond within every aspect of our daily lives then, the world would be a better place, Watters said.

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Faces of US: Ashley Watters - The Free Press of the University of Southern Maine