Meet a student in the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing   

Steve Bocchese

Nikki Zaffiri-Boland caught up with junior Steve

Bocchese, who takes his role as a nursing student to heart. Here, he takes time to answer some questions about his experience at GMC.

NZB: Why were you interested in going into the field of nursing?

SB: I knew that I wanted to get into the medical field but was unsure of where in the field I wanted to be. In my junior year of high school, I thought about my options and kind of fell into the nursing major. I was accepted at Gwynedd-Mercy College for nursing but was still unsure if this was what I wanted to do with my life. After my first semester, I believed that I had truly found the job that I wanted to do.

NZB: How are your nursing classes? Do you enjoy them?

SB: Yes, I really enjoy all of my nursing classes. They are my favorite classes. Some of my nursing classes are tough, but I get a lot of valuable information out of them.

NZB: What do you enjoy most about working in the hospital environment?

SB: I really enjoy the patient care portion of working in the hospital. I like the direct contact I have with the patients. I learn about people and am able to build a relationship with each patient.

NZB: What are you involved in on campus?

SB: I am involved in Campus Ministry, ARC tutoring, Alternative Spring Break, and the Dominican Republic trip for nursing this year. I feel as if being part of all these organizations gives meaning to my life. By being involved in these campus activities, I am able to perform small acts of kindness for many different people that build up and become a big difference to someone in the end. Helping others is what we are supposed to do, and it makes me feel proud to be part of these organizations.

NZB: Where do you plan on going in life after graduating from GMC?

SB: I would like to work in a Philadelphia hospital as a nurse practitioner in nephrology, which is the study of the kidneys. Later in life, I would also like to become a professor and teach nursing.

NZB: How has your time at GMC influenced your views?

SB: Gwynedd-Mercy College has opened my eyes to a type of learning based highly on the service of others. I think that attending a school involved in service learning contributes to my nursing education by having an experience in serving people outside of my clinical rotations.