Streamlining Her Nursing Career Path
During her junior year of college, Rahimhodjayeva decided to attend nursing school. She began taking some prerequisite courses, including anatomy and nutrition. Her mother encouraged her to begin this journey promptly after her undergraduate studies. She discovered Simmons while looking for programs starting in the fall after her college graduation.
“With Simmons, I loved how responsive the admission team was. They answered all my questions,” she remarks. “And their direct entry MSN program just seemed so straightforward. It was a straight-shot and no-frills way for me to get my degrees. That is something I appreciated. It just seemed like a great package to get my master’s and RN and NP licenses all in three years.”
Moreover, Rahimhodjayeva was intrigued by the School of Nursing’s (SON) Boston location. “I had never been to Boston, but I thought the idea of moving across the country seemed cool. And the more I researched Boston, the more I learned about how it is the medical mecca of the country and how good of a reputation Simmons has within the nursing community,” she says.
Rahimhodjayeva enjoys the breadth provided by the family nurse practitioner field. “I always knew that I wanted to do the FNP track, because there are so many routes and specialties you can go into from there. And there is a wide range of patients you get to see.”
Like many members of her cohort, Rahimhodjayeva opted to take a few extra classes to obtain the DNP through Simmons.
“I feel like Simmons just did a great job of selling it to us. It made a lot of sense to get the terminal degree for the DNP if it is not going to add any length to my program time,” she explains. “And it [the DNP] certainly does open more doors in terms of [career] opportunities, because with a doctorate you can also do research and teach.”
Stimulating Coursework, Supportive Faculty
Thus far, Rohimhodjayeva’s favorite Simmons course has been “Advanced Pathophysiology, Health Assessment, and Pharmacology” (NURS 405) with Professor Sarah Volkman.
“Professor Volkman is very knowledgeable, understanding, and approachable. She would explain things in class in a few different ways to ensure understanding and target different learning styles. And it was really refreshing to see a professor who doesn’t just read off of lecture slides. She could just recite everything about every topic without needing to look at the slides at all. She just had it down,” she says.
Another stimulating course was “Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan” (NURS 424) with SON faculty member Elaine Ferreira. “Dr. Ferreira is a sweet and fun professor. I always laugh when I’m in her class. I enjoy that positive learning environment,” she says.
During her studies, Rahimhodjayeva has found the SON’s Nursing Simulation Center especially instructive.
“I love the Sim Lab. It is super state of the art, and all the manikins are high-fidelity [i.e., close to real-life patients], and they can do so many things,” she says. “The Sim lab is a great learning experience. It is consequence-free, such that you are not getting a grade and it is not a place of criticism. It’s for constructive feedback and learning without the stress of hurting an actual patient.”
Clinical Placements in Boston
During her pre-licensure phase, Rahimhodjayeva landed several clinical placements within Boston. She appreciated how accommodating Simmons was in securing these opportunities.
“Every semester, Simmons would send us a Google form with demographic information for us to fill out, like where we lived and if we had a car, and any preferences we had for clinicals, daytime or evening, weekday or weekend. They accommodated us as best as they could,” she says. “I have gained clinical experience at the VA, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. They were all amazing clinical experiences.”
Working with a clinical instructor, Rahimhodjayeva gained experience in assessing patients, creating documentation, and administering medications. During her preceptorship, she received one-on-one instruction.
“These experiences were so great. It’s so nice to have a hands-on learning experience and actually apply what you are learning in class,” she says. “You recognize things you learn in class by seeing how they present themselves in person.”
Making a Difference
As to her future plans, Rahimhodjayeva expects to work as a nurse for another year. After that, she is considering returning to California to become an NP, but she is also open to staying in the Boston area.
“I love helping people, and it makes me happy to see other people feel happy as a result of what I could do for them,” Rahimhodjayeva says.
“With nursing, you are making a difference and influencing so many people, and I feel so thankful for the opportunity and privilege to be able to do that,” she says. “Nursing is just one of those things that reminds you that kindness is everywhere, and can come from the smallest of interactions, gestures, and thoughts.”
