Sophia Brand will graduate this fall from The University of New Mexico College of Nursing’s Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. She is set to begin her career in the Trauma Surgical Burn ICU at UNM Hospital, where she has interned since May.
Brand, originally from Southern California, moved to New Mexico in 2018 and worked in 911 response and with the New Mexico Department of Health. These roles led her to discover a passion for critical care and providing support to those in need.
She explained that these experiences influenced her decision to enroll in the accelerated nursing program at UNM. "I like to say this profession chose me a lot sooner than I chose it," Brand said.
During her studies, Brand learned the importance of adapting study habits. She recalled an academic workshop early in the program that emphasized positive thinking during exams. "It said test results actually do increase when you have an affirmation and go into a test with a positive mindset," she said.
Brand started a tradition within her cohort by leading centering moments before each test. "Every single time, we just clear our minds. Take a breath. Take a moment to just tune into what we are going to do," she said. "We studied. We put in the time. We are great students. We’ve got this."
Despite the fast pace of the program, Brand held leadership positions on campus, serving as treasurer for the UNM Health Sciences Student Council and later as secretary and president of the Student Nursing Association.
She highlighted the importance of understanding community needs in nursing: "If you want to truly make an impact in any community, you really have to understand what is going on and how you are able to play a role in that," she said.
Brand also spoke about approaching patient care with awareness of culture and access issues, emphasizing resilience among patients: "The human body is such an amazing thing," she said. "You get to see such a variety of patient presentations, some who are very close to not making it, and sometimes you get to see those patients get discharged to a subacute unit. Sometimes you get to even discharge to their home. That’s one of the most beautiful things."
Her message for classmates was clear: “I want to stress the importance of taking care of yourself, especially when we are taking care of so many other people,” Brand said. “I just want everyone to know that they are worthy. They are important. They are just as important as the patients they are taking care of.”
As graduation nears, Brand expressed gratitude for her experiences at UNM and looks forward to further growth and responsibility as she begins her full-time nursing career.
For those interested in pursuing nursing at UNM, information about their Accelerated Second Degree BSN program is available for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to transition into nursing.
