Daniel Boring is a Newman student, husband, father of three, and currently lives in Tulsa, Okla. However, the distance from Wichita to Tulsa doesn’t stop him from trying to reach his goal of becoming a successful nurse anesthetist.
Here’s what a typical week in the life of Newman student Daniel Boring looks like:
On Monday, he attends class from noon until 8 p.m., then heads to an apartment that he and a friend, also from Tulsa, stay at during the week. At the end of the day, Boring usually makes a phone call to say hello to his wife and kids, then calls it a night. The next day he is in class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and immediately after dismissal, he drives back home to Tulsa to be with his family.
The next three days are spent doing clinicals at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m., and after studying for any upcoming tests he may have, Boring will head home. Once the weekend rolls around, Boring tries to set aside one day that he can dedicate to quality time with his family. Whatever time is left of his weekend, Boring spends studying. He then packs up what he needs for the next week and drives two and a half hours back to Wichita to start his routine all over again.
Before nursing, Boring said that he worked in maintenance for a year in Stillwater, Okla., but grew tired of the industry shortly after he injured his back. Boring’s dad, who is an orthopedic surgeon, suggested that he look into becoming a nurse — particularly a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. After shadowing a Newman graduate at Ponca City Medical Center in Oklahoma, Boring decided that this small, private college in Wichita might have exactly the type of program he had been searching for.
Prior to attending Newman, Boring spent one year as an undergraduate at Oklahoma State University, then earned his associate’s degree in nursing from Northern Oklahoma College. From there, he continued his education at Oklahoma Wesleyan University and earned his bachelor’s degree.
In January of 2016, Boring interviewed for the nurse anesthesia program at Newman University. He received his acceptance letter the next month and jumped straight into six months of preparation. Boring officially began his time in the program at Newman in August.
“So far, it’s been great,” Boring said.
His first semester consisted of mostly on-campus book work, and ever since he started working on clinical-based tasks in Tulsa, he has been incredibly busy, he said.
“You’re not just a number in a crowd at Newman,” he said. “You have professors who will take the time to learn your name, who are willing to help you when you are struggling, and who [genuinely] want to see you succeed.”
Boring also noted that professors at Newman are always available to answer a call or reply to a text, should their students need it.
“I have had really good training, so I can’t complain, aside from driving back and forth — which isn’t fun, but necessary,” he said.
Boring said that it can be challenging spending so much time away from his family.
“They are used to me working four days every week and being home every week, but now I’m here [in Wichita] two days every week, studying and working the other days, which is a big time commitment for sure,” he said.
“It takes a lot of time out of the week — both away from my family and study time — but it will be worth it in the end and my family understands that,” Boring said. “My dad was really good about always supporting me through college, and he did so financially and in whatever other way he could,” he said. “My grandpa did the same for my dad, so it’s nice that that has been passed down to me.
“I am especially thankful for my wife for being with me through this because I know it hasn’t been easy,” Boring said. “I know it isn’t easy but I appreciate all the efforts my family has made to help me get through the program.”
Boring said that his wife’s sister has also been a huge help with taking care of the kids each week, who are ages 7, 4, and 8 months. “I feel like I always have someone who is there to help me when I need it, which I am really grateful for,” he said.
Although it is tedious at times, Boring said that he has gotten used to the time that it takes to get to Newman from his home, and vice versa.
“I spend quite a bit of the car ride listening to lectures that I have recorded, and I use the time to review Quizlets via audio,” he said. “Plus, I listen to some Five Finger Death Punch whenever I get tired.”
For the next step in his educational career, Boring plans to increase his clinical hours and will “keep chipping away” at his requirements to become a CRNA.
“I plan to work in Oklahoma and would like to get my doctorate whenever I am finished with my master’s degree.”
Boring said he would prefer to accomplish this goal of earning a doctorate degree at Newman University, if possible.
“I highly recommend Newman not only for its graduate program, but for undergraduates as well.” he said. “I want to go to work in a smaller rural facility, and I need to be able to provide safe anesthesia to my patients. Newman gives me those skills. The professors at Newman are very good at giving their students that hands-on experience. It’s a great university all around that strives to create well-rounded students — and they do a great job of accomplishing that.”
