Long before Kent State University College of Nursing alum Stephen Baldwin, BSN ’24, ever stepped foot on the Kent Campus, his life experiences had sent him down a trajectory that would ignite his interest in the nursing profession. Just after 9/11, when Baldwin was only seven weeks old, his father who was on special assignment and served as a doctor in the military, passed away while on active duty while stationed in Germany. At thirteen years old, Baldwin’s mother experienced a stroke, and he was forced to grow up quickly and take on more independence and responsibility. Later that same year, Baldwin’s uncle was also diagnosed with Leukemia, and Baldwin recalled how highly his uncle spoke of the nurses who cared for him. These experiences, along with the desire to follow his father’s footsteps into healthcare, became the driving force behind the resilient individual and nurse Baldwin is today.
Looking back over his four years at Kent State, Baldwin shared how resiliency continued to shape his educational pursuit.
“When I was accepted into the nursing program, we were at the height of COVID, and I completed my prerequisites at home. Those were tough courses, but I did great, and it reassured me this was the career path I wanted to go down,” said Baldwin. “It was a wild time having my mom there to help me study like a college friend or roommate.”
During his second year, however, Baldwin felt the pressure of his nursing program intensify and it left him questioning if he could in fact do it. Upon meeting his classmates and forming new friendships with others experiencing the same sensations, his uncertainty began to pass knowing he had a community of other male nursing students who could both understand and offer support. In addition to his new friend group, Baldwin forged close personal relationships with the nursing faculty.
“When I came to college, there were so many students I thought there was no way my professors would notice me. But then I began to attend faculty office hours where I could talk with my professors one-on-one,” said Baldwin. “The Kent State nursing faculty want to be involved in the success of their students. They invest so much of themselves to ensure we have the tools and knowledge necessary to become competent and excellent nurses. During those office hour visits, the faculty gave me great advice and guidance that helped me throughout my educational journey.”
When asked to share a favorite moment from his undergraduate program, Baldwin fondly recalled his first day of clinical and how lost he and his classmates felt. He explained when they all showed up at the hospital that morning no one knew what they were doing, but in that initial fear of the unknown, the clinical group bonded.
“We were all afraid because we had only practiced in the simulation and skills labs on the manikins. But we were all in the same boat, and it immediately brought us together as a group to figure it out,” said Baldwin. “Obviously, our clinical instructor walked us through a lot of stuff that day, but we still felt the unease of being outside our education comfort zone. I think it’s amazing that out of our initial panic, we grew closer as classmates and thrived in that first hands-on experience.”
During his junior year, Baldwin observed a class presentation from local hospitals promoting their nursing student summer internship programs. Students could complete their practicum hours during the summer, thus lightening their class load for their senior year. Knowing he would need to complete his practicum hours with a preceptor before graduation at some point, Baldwin decided to apply and was excited to receive a spot at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. He explained the summer internship was a 10-week paid position which nearly doubled the amount of practicum hours he needed to complete and provided him with more learning experiences. Baldwin spent five weeks each on the cardiac step-down and respiratory units.
“My resilience was tested my first few days in the respiratory unit. My preceptor had only been a practicing nurse for about a year, and I was her first student to precept. At times it felt frustrating and unfair that we were both trying to figure this out at the same time. But when I changed my attitude to that of teamwork, we were able to maximize my learning experiences,” said Baldwin. “I had to decide my internship experience was my responsibility to take charge of if I wanted to get the most out of it. There were still moments that felt challenging, but overall, it became a wonderful opportunity to experience growth personally and professionally. Under the guidance of my preceptors, Lauren and Danielle, I increased my knowledge of cardiac issues, time management and prioritization skills.”
Throughout his Kent State experience, Baldwin has also learned more about his mental health and how to recognize his personal limitations. He implemented helpful self-care practices into his life such as going to the gym, spending quality time with friends and family and prioritizing alone time to strengthen his faith, reflect on what’s been happening around him and recharge. Baldwin said he has also used that personal time to plan out his upcoming goals and tasks for the week and finds great satisfaction in checking them off his list once completed.
“I have learned how to pace myself, my tasks and my energy. I have been able to apply this skill to avoid burning out during my studies. On more than one occasion I have reminded myself college is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Baldwin. “These four years have taught me how much I value other people and companionship. Having the right group of people around and supporting me has been extremely beneficial for my mental health.”
Baldwin tributes much of his success to his parents and the example they each set for him.
“My mom deserves all the credit for the man I am today. She instilled me with values and taught me the skills to succeed in life, even while she was experiencing her own challenges. She always had a positive attitude, even through her stroke recovery. She's an incredible woman and my hero,” said Baldwin. “If my dad were here, he would love that I am a nurse. Based on the stories my mom told me about him as I was growing up, he cared for people and wanted to help people when they were facing their worst points. I am living out his legacy because that's what I'm doing, too. I know he would be proud of me.”
Baldwin hopes his story of resilience serves as inspiration for the nursing students coming up behind him. He encourages current students to take charge of their education.
“Your education is what you make it. Commit to learning the most you can. I look back at those moments when I was lazy and pushed things off and realize now how unbeneficial that attitude was to my learning experience,” said Baldwin. “Don’t quit when it gets hard. I guarantee if you decide to keep pushing, and keep working, you are not going to regret it.”
Prior to his May 2024 graduation, Baldwin accepted a position at University Hospitals main campus in the trauma intensive care unit (ICU). He anticipates a late summer start date.
“I wanted to work in the ICU because I want experience with high acuity and critical patients. The Trauma ICU will strengthen and develop my nursing skills and serve as a solid foundation for my nursing career,” said Baldwin. “I look forward to working with a talented team and developing strong friendships with my soon-to-be new colleagues.”
In the future, Baldwin plans to obtain his graduate degree and become a nurse anesthetist.