Student Spotlight: Hylin Smith Pursues Lifelong Dream in 24-Month Bachelor's Program

As part of Strong Memorial Hospital’s Patient Relations team, Hylin Smith is passionate about supporting patients, families, and caregivers.

Now, as she pursues her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, she looks forward to making a difference in patients’ lives from a different perspective.

Smith is continuing her education at the School of Nursing as one of the first students to pursue the Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing program’s 24-month pathway.

“I've always wanted to be a nurse,” Smith said. “My education and career path led me to obtaining my bachelor's in health care administration first, but I always knew that becoming a nurse would be in the cards for me.”

Why did you choose UR Nursing?

As an employee of the University, I've always heard previous students and nurse leaders speak very highly of UR Nursing’s programs, so I always hoped that becoming a student here would be an option when I began looking into nursing schools.

When the time did come to begin applying, the School had just announced their 24-month program, which would allow me to work and receive full-tuition benefits while working towards my second bachelor’s degree. I knew this school would be perfect for me and what I wanted in my future.

Can you tell us a little bit about your current role at Strong?

I currently work in Patient Relations for the Emergency Department (ED) here at Strong. We deal with any patient complaints, provide support to patients and families navigating our ED, and support the ED staff. The most rewarding part of my job is working on such an amazing team that works so hard for not only our patients and families, but all staff within our department.

What has been the best part of your student experience?

I have enjoyed working with all of the amazing faculty and professors that UR Nursing has. It's inspiring to hear my professors’ stories about how they began their careers and what paths they took to find their passions or specialties. From becoming a nurse educator to obtaining a PhD, they are showing us the many avenues of being a nurse, which is one my biggest attractions to the career.

Tell us about someone at UR Nursing who has made an impact on you.

Margot Buschang is just the epitome of what care look likes as a nurse. She was my first clinical instructor and did an amazing job making us feel comfortable to jump into clinicals and help our patients.

Luis Rosario-McCabe has been extremely helpful as the 24-month cohort navigates the new program. He never backed away from concerns we had and always makes himself available for discussions. Our advisor, Instructor Jennifer Truax, has also been a great resource.

What do you like to do when you’re not at school or work?

I spend most of my time with my family and boyfriend, and enjoy fishing and weekend trips. I hope to do more traveling and plan a nice trip as a graduation present.

Any Rochester recommendations for students from out of town?

If you are ever in a new town I would suggest going to any art exhibits in the area. It's a fun way to find our cool facts about a place. The Memorial Art Gallery is amazing, and they always have new exhibits that showcase new and prominent artists.

Learn more about 24-Month Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program.