Then & Now: Vanessa Caruccio ’13 And Ashley Mueskes (Women’s Soccer)

ASHLEY MUESKES VIDEO INTERVIEW

(The Then & Now feature aims to highlight one alum and one current student from the same team and major who have shined athletically and academically as a student-athlete at Endicott)

BEVERLY, Mass. – Balancing school work, internships, practices, and games is no easy task for any student-athlete but for the select few enrolled in the School of Nursing at Endicott these experiences can sometimes be more challenging. Taking Clinical nursing courses in such areas as geriatric, medical-surgical, maternity, pediatric, psychiatric, and community health nursing, while also preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), takes a highly motivated and passionate student-athlete to excel in the Nursing program and on the playing field.

Although they only played one season together on the soccer field, senior Ashley Mueskes (Georgetown, Mass) and Vanessa Caruccio '13 (Winthrop, Mass.) both share a bond much greater than the sport they play. As a current member and an alumnus of the Endicott women's soccer program, Ashley and Vanessa have committed to their passion for helping others through a career in nursing. ECGulls.com caught up with both of them to talk more about their careers, why they chose to attend Endicott, and also ask them how the Endicott experience has helped shape them personally and professionally.

"The close-knit community, academics and athletics were all factors as to why Endicott was the perfect fit for me," stated Caruccio. "The nursing program [at Endicott also] consisted of about 30 students which made me feel more than just a number. I was able to create meaningful relationships with my professors throughout my four years. And I'd be lying if I said the beautiful campus and the beaches didn't somewhat influence my decision too!"

Mueskes backed up Caruccio's claims, especially in regards to the nursing program at Endicott.

"I chose Endicott because of the well-known nursing program and opportunity to continue playing soccer," said Mueskes. "Endicott provides extensive clinical experiences starting in the fall of your sophomore year, which was definitely a plus knowing that we would be exposed to hands on training at an early time. Being close to the Boston area I hoped that I would be able to complete some rotations at the big city hospitals and so far I have been able to do one at Mass. General Hospital."

Caruccio, who played in 81 career games for the Gulls and compiled 42 career points (17g, 8a), has paved the way for someone like Mueskes as a nursing major within the women's soccer program. Caruccio currently works as a registered nurse on a neurosciences unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"I believe my clinical experience and the preparedness and confidence I gained at Endicott is the main reason why I am the successful nurse I am today," said Caruccio. "My experience I had during my undergraduate years and the doors that opened up for me post-graduation are the main reasons why I am returning as a graduate student to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. Also, being a part of a small community has also allowed me to create relationships with people which I believe I will have forever."

Caruccio attributed all her current success to the experiential learning model at Endicott, along with playing on the highly competitive women's soccer team.

"Being a student-athlete at Endicott has definitely helped me in my nursing career. Learning how to balance academics, athletics and my personal life during my four years spent at Endicott has given me the ability to collaborate and work well with others," stated Caruccio. "Endicott has enabled me to be a successful member in a new kind of team consisting of nurses, doctors, therapists, as well as the patients, and their families. My competitive nature has also allowed me to be a successful nurse since I am determined to accomplish the best outcomes for my patients."

Much like Caruccio, Mueskes has been following the same formula over her last three-plus years at Endicott and as of now Mueskes' looks destined to land a job right out of college thanks to the support system and structure set in place by both programs.

Mueskes has already completed clinical rotations at Spaulding Rehabilitation, Beverly Hospital, Salem Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital, and is currently completing work in an acute care clinical, at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass. every Thursday.

Working in an acute care clinical means that Mueskes floats around among the following units/departments: the intensive care unit, cardiac intensive care unit, cardiac Cath lab, and the emergency department.

Somehow, Mueskes is balancing her work in the acute care rotation every Thursday along with classes, practices, games and her social life.

"It is definitely busy managing both nursing classes and clinical rotations with soccer," said Mueskes. "Nursing majors are typically in class for longer periods of time, so on average we will have multiple 2-3 hour lectures a day. On these days I usually go right to practice after classes end for the day. The amount of work put in among my classes, clinical rotations, and soccer adds up but I know it will be worth it once I find a job in the career that I love."

LABOR OF LOVE

Through helping others during her career, Caruccio knows, wholeheartedly, what it means when someone else is in need. That realization never became more apparent than in 2013, three years after she registered herself on the Be-A-Match bone marrow registry.

Three months prior to her graduation in 2013, Caruccio was matched with a then 56-year-old male with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The transplant was a success then, and even nearly two years later it still is as the recipient is doing quite well and healthy.

"Since registering for the Be-A-Match bone marrow registry in 2010, I have been trying to raise awareness for the cause in general because I know first-hand that it can help save lives," said Caruccio. "I would encourage anyone with an interest in the cause to check out their website and think about registering."

The Be-A-Match Registry can be found at https://bethematch.org/. Be The Match®, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), is a nonprofit organization that's dedicated to helping every patient get the life-saving transplant they need. As trusted leaders in advancing treatments for those facing life-threatening blood cancers, we provide the ground-breaking research, innovative technologies, patient support and education that save lives.

NURSING MAJOR AT ENDICOTT

The Endicott School of Nursing prepares nurses for roles in medical practice, administration, and nursing education. Endicott offers educational programs leading to B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, as well as professional certifications and licensure. The classes and programs are designed to meet the needs and goals of Endicott's students at the various stages of their careers as nursing professionals through a variety of course delivery methods.

For more information about the Endicott School of Nursing click here: Endicott School of Nursing. 

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