Nursing, a time-consuming yet rewarding degree taken on by dedicated individuals, is challenging enough in your native language. Furdiki Sherpa, a Nursing major and Health minor from Nepal, has navigated her way through the nursing field and clinical studies all in a second language.
The decision to pursue a career in healthcare came easily to Sherpa, who would watch her aunt care for an uncle who dealt with multiple health issues while living in Nepal.
“I always wanted to help and make a difference in people’s lives. After high school, I realized that nursing was my calling and I came to Vermont from Nepal to pursue my career as a nurse,” Sherpa said.
After earning her LPN from Vermont Technical College, she moved her studies to the Castleton campus to achieve her RN.
“I always strive for challenges, experiences, and new adventures in life, and coming here has been a great experience that has helped me grow personally and professionally.”
Nursing students complete clinical hours at various health care sites, an experience that provided Sherpa the opportunity to work with different groups of patients. From pediatric, psych, geriatric, and the general population, she found hands-on work at facilities such as the Rutland Regional Medical Center, Dartmouth Hitchcock, and the University of Vermont Medical Center.
“My college experience in Vermont has been interesting and difficult mostly because English is my second language. Besides learning new nursing terms, I also had to learn English grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation,” Sherpa said. “Also, learning about the culture of western medicine and the healthcare system in the U.S. was both challenging and rewarding to me.”
