UNMC College of Nursing student ‘proud’ of education as he prepares for future

Troy Scheer began his first semester at the University of Nebraska­–Lincoln in the fall of 2018 expecting to take the first steps toward pursuing a degree in computer science.

However, Scheer quickly found that he was pursuing a career he wasn’t truly interested in. He pivoted and found an interest in the field of health sciences but couldn’t pin down a career that truly connected with him.

Scheer spent the next two semesters of his freshman year soul-searching for his calling. Seemingly overnight, he landed on a path toward a career in nursing. Six years later, Scheer is just weeks away from receiving his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“I think I just woke up one day and realized that every day in college was going to be preparing me for my future career,” he said. “In those early days of my undergraduate career, I realized that I wanted to pursue something that I felt like was going to give me the opportunity to directly impact the lives of people and help them in a meaningful way.”

Scheer, a Gretna, Nebraska, native, is in the final weeks of his preceptorship out of the college’s Lincoln division. After receiving his BSN in May and receiving his nursing license in June, Scheer will begin work at Nebraska Medicine as an RN in the neurological specialty unit.

“I’m very excited for the position,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for a couple months now.”

On top of the new job, Scheer is already planning for his future. He was recently admitted to the PhD in Nursing program through UNMC beginning this fall. Earning his doctorate will help Scheer get one step closer to his goal of preparing future generations of Nebraska nurses.

“I want to dive into the world of nursing research and academia,” he said. “Potentially, I could see myself becoming faculty to someday teach future nursing students.”

The success Scheer has found through UNMC’s nursing program would not have been possible without the support of selfless donors. Scheer was the recipient of several UNMC scholarships, including the Bernice Harris Nursing Scholarship and Nora Parker Linn Scholarship.

He said the impact donor support has on himself and his peers at UNMC is immeasurable.

“Being a student is not an easy path,” Scheer said. “It involves a lot of professional and personal growth, along with the financial burdens that accompany higher education. What may seem like a simple monetary gift really does go a long way in supporting students’ growth and education.”

The future is bright for Scheer. His passion for the field has bloomed over the last two years thanks in large part to the opportunities provided to him through UNMC’s nursing program.

“I’m very proud to be able to call myself a UNMC Lincoln Division nursing student,” he said. “The main reason for that is the faculty. They have provided some of the best interactions I’ve had over the last six years of undergraduate study.”

The school’s focus on implementing information learned during classroom instruction in a hands-on environment has helped Scheer continue to grow as a nursing student.

“You have your didactic classes throughout the week, where you’re in a classroom setting and it’s all very information heavy,” he said. “Then, you’ll turn around the next day and you’ll be bedside in a hospital caring for someone who’s incredibly ill and you’re applying that textbook knowledge.”

Those bedside interactions also helped Scheer realize that he found his passion in nursing.

“The humanity you’re able to witness when you’re in the hospital and you’re helping people that are very ill and vulnerable is such a great feeling,” he said. “I’m very proud of everything I have done thus far in nursing school.”

As he prepares to enter the next chapter of his life, Scheer is proud to call himself a UNMC graduate. The opportunities provided to him over the last two years have set the stage for a lifetime of success, all while making an impact in the lives of those who need it most.

“I believe that my peers and I are quite prepared to enter the field as new graduate nurses and we have our college and faculty to thank for that,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the support that has been given to our college that allows this good work to continue.”