Megan Pfundstein is a leader on the Molloy campus. She is a member of the Student Government, Honors Program, a Student Ambassador, and a cheerleader. The junior is also a nursing student and works as a nurses' assistant in the Emergency Department Observation Unit at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan.

"Molloy has truly provided me with so many wonderful opportunities that have allowed me to grow as a person," she said. "Being a part of the Molloy Student Government is allowing me to become comfortable using my voice to advocate for my future patients. My time with Molloy athletics is teaching me how to be a part of a team that works together to reach a common goal.  As a member of the honors program, I am learning the importance of managing my time and challenging myself to be a leader.  Academically, my amazing nursing professors are teaching me the critical thinking skills I need to be a great nurse.  I always say that one of the most special things about Molloy's nursing program is that students see each other as future co-workers.  We are a competitive and driven group, not because we feel the need to compete with our classmates for the best grades, but because we all want to learn as much as we can so that our future patients can have the best outcomes possible.  Molloy does a great job of fostering a collaborative environment that will translate over to my nursing career."

In October, Pfundstein started working at NYU to learn more about her future career.

"I started working as a student nurse extern in October to get some more clinical experience," she said.  "Once my unit started to admit patients with COVID and classes moved to online learning, I was able to work more hours to help out.  The nurses on the unit that I work for have taught me so much during the past few months, so I wanted to be able to be an extra set of hands to help them on the unit.  I also knew that patients needed support now more than ever due to the restricted visitor policies set in place by all hospitals."

Being a member of the Molloy cheerleading team has also helped prepare her for her work in the hospital.

"I learned a lot about how important trust, support, and encouragement is during my first season as a cheerleader last year," Pfundstein said. "The stunts that we do can be scary or nerve wracking so your teammates have to trust that you will do your best to keep them safe if something goes wrong.  I want nurses and patients to know that they can count on me in the hospital.  These patients are going through some of the hardest days of their lives and they are doing it alone so hospital staff is a huge support system for them.  I try to remain positive and make sure the patient knows that we will do everything we can to support them.  Taking the time to share a few encouraging words or making sure you gain your patients' trust can go a really long way."

Pfundstein enjoys going into work, interacting, and getting to know her patients.

"My favorite part of my job is getting to know my patients," she said. "Manhattan has such a diverse population and each patient has his or her own story.  The large majority of our patients are elderly and they always have so much wisdom to share with me.  I love to make my patients laugh and smile but sometimes they just need an ear to listen to whatever they are feeling in that moment.  Bringing comfort to patients is what keeps me going through the stress of working in a hospital during a pandemic."

Megan Pfundstein leads by example at Molloy. She is working to help the community and following in the footsteps of so many nurses who went to Molloy and make a difference in the world.

"I want to thank all of my classmates and Molloy alumni who have been working on the frontlines or doing whatever they can to support humanity during this time.  You are all an inspiration," she concluded.