International health care experiences put nursing grad on path to career success
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—In spring 2020, Emily Bosak was a high school graduate full of promise, headed to Western Michigan University with her sights set on becoming a nurse anesthetist. Four years, three study abroad experiences, multiple research projects and practicums, an internship and chartering a new sorority on campus later, she's graduating with a hospital job locked in and the career experience she needs to reach that ultimate goal.
"Western was definitely the right choice for me. I could have gone anywhere, but Western provided me with more opportunities (than the rest). And I took all of them," she laughs. "I don't think I wasted any time here. Even during the summer when I didn't have classes, I was still doing something—whether it was studying abroad or working at my internship. It was always interesting."
Bosak, a Medallion Scholar, Heyl Scholar and Lee Honors College student, will graduate from Western during fall commencement on Saturday, Dec. 14, with bachelor's degrees in nursing and Spanish and a minor in biological sciences. She's already started to put her two degrees to use in the neurology critical care unit at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, where she's served as an intern for the past year and recently accepted a full-time job offer as a critical care nurse.
"There are people who come in who are only Spanish-speaking, and with my Spanish knowledge, I'm able to communicate with them and make them feel more comfortable and like they're being understood in an environment that is completely foreign to them," she says.
"I really like taking care of people, and I think that I have a lot to give. When people come to the hospital, it can be the worst moment of their life. So something as simple as me helping relieve their pain can be a huge game-changer. It's really rewarding."
Getting engaged
Bosak, a Kalamazoo Promise recipient, initially chose Western over four other schools in Michigan because of the engaged faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and opportunities to get involved in her fields of interest from day one. Her experience on campus—especially in the Bronson School of Nursing—exceeded her expectations.
"Western had clinicals set up throughout the entire program that would enhance different parts of nursing. We would experience different fields, like pediatrics, obstetrics and elders. And then when I got my internship, I was able to put together everything I learned through all of these clinicals. And now it's my actual job, which is very cool," she says.
Being immersed in the field during her internship has given her critical experience Bosak says she'll take with her into her career.
"I'm paired with a registered nurse, and we do all of the nursing work together. So, it's very
hands-on. It's applying everything from my book work to real life. And that's been super helpful, because even if you think that you're going into the medical field, it's still completely different once you're actually in that setting."
Bosak plans to spend a year or two working as a nurse before applying to graduate anesthesia programs.
"Western has really set me up to further my education; I feel a lot more prepared," she says. "I've gotten a ton of support, specifically through the nursing program. I have professors who are checking up on me constantly, asking me what I'm going to do next and how they can help. Some have really gone out of their way."
She's also had multiple opportunities to engage in impactful research, from examining vitamin-D deficiencies in children to exploring how peer support can improve health outcomes among African American women living with hypertension.
"I think research is my key to pursuing further education. What you learn from textbooks that you have in school can only get you so far; research is the next step. And at Western, it's been super easy to find research opportunities," she says. "All of the professors are doing research, or you can do your own. Plus, we have all these amazing companies that surround Western doing research as well."
Expanding worldview
Despite a rigorous academic schedule, Bosak found time to expand her horizons through multiple study abroad trips. Her first, a summer in Santander, Spain, was an immersive language experience where she deepened her Spanish speaking and writing skills through a WMU partnership with the Universidad de Cantabria. On the weekends, she took opportunities to travel and experience other European cities.
"I feel like my language abilities have grown significantly because of my study abroad experiences, and my compassion as well," she says.
Having fully succumbed to the travel bug, Bosak jumped at the opportunity to put her passport to use once again on a spring break study abroad trip to Costa Rica focused on health and health care. Bosak and her classmates, alongside Dr. Pamela Wadsworth, associate professor of nursing, visited an herb farm, interacted with kids at schools and learned about various types of health care and insurance available in the Central American nation.
A third chance to travel came in the form of a Lee Honors College Study in the States program called the U.S./Mexican Border Awareness Experience. Bosak, alongside several other honors students, spent time in both Texas and Mexico, speaking to a diverse array of groups—from migrants and workers in immigrant shelters and refugee camps to border patrol officers and community leaders.
"It was a very enlightening experience," Bosak says. "I'm a lot more open-minded about everything. There's a lot that I don't know, and I'm starting to respect that."
Finding belonging
Bosak arrived at Western at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The physical distancing and lack of in-person activities left her craving connection and a sense of community.
"I've always felt a strong connection with my Chinese heritage," she says. "When I first got here, I was surprised because I felt like I kind of lost my Asian community."
So, she got to work creating a sense of belonging—not just for herself but for classmates as well.
"I found a couple of girls who had already started the idea of an Asian sorority, and the more we hung out, the more I liked the idea of building our own community where we could find support for our Asian cultures."
With the help of the Office of Student Engagement, Bosak and her friends began the process of creating an interest group that eventually became the charter class of the WMU chapter of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., a member of the Multicultural Greek Council.
"Now I have friends all over the United States that are part of this sorority, and I go visit them when I can. It's nice to know that there is a group now here on campus for other people who feel like I did when I started here," says Bosak. She's also proud of the philanthropic work her sorority has done with organizations such as the YWCA to advocate for and help women who have been affected by violence, a legacy she hopes the organization will build on in the future.
"Helping start this sorority made a huge difference for me at Western, and it's so rewarding to see the difference it's also making not only on campus for other students like me but in the community as well."
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