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Why sign up to be an RA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you ask RAs why they signed-up for the gig, they usually say something along the lines of building relationships and skills that will boost their r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Serafine was hoping for mentorship from faculty, as she\u2019s considering the career of an advanced practice nurse. Serafine researches genomics curriculum with Dr. Molly Prengaman, a nurse practitioner who teaches in the BS-DNP program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s been cool to have her as someone I can have advice from, not only for research, but other things too,\u201d said Serafine. \u201cI definitely really appreciate her experience caring for patients\u2026It’s really obvious she’s really interested and excited about it. So I think her attitude towards education, nursing, genomics, everything has just been really encouraging to me. I’ve really enjoyed that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isabel McGregor saw being an RA as an opportunity to get more involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI felt like it would be cool to contribute to something bigger and that would benefit the program,\u201d McGregor said. \u201cAnd then also just connecting with professors and building relationships outside the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She feels like the experience has given her a whole new perspective from her professors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve gained a whole different perspective, their perspective of research or their career path\u2013something that we wouldn’t necessarily get inside the classroom\u2013and just like connecting with them on a more personal level,\u201d McGregor said. \u201cWe are seeing each other more often and meeting with each other in a more one-on-one space\u2026I feel like you just gain so much more and we can relate to each other better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s really nice to have a closer connection with a professor through the research,\u201d said junior Grace Ellison. \u201cI just feel more connected to the program in that sense, because I feel like I have another support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When students sign up to be an RA, they\u2019re paired with faculty to work on their projects. One thing Ellison appreciated, though, was how the School of Nursing keeps students\u2019 interests in mind when assigning them to faculty projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe get to focus on something we would be more interested in, so then it’s more like we’re passionate about it, and we want to work on it,\u201d Ellison said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RAs do most of their work independently, at home, on their own time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI’m just not one of those people that necessarily does that well,\u201d said McGregor. \u201cBut seeing other RAs or classmates do their work and get published or present it is really motivating. I think that’s one of the most rewarding parts of it, honestly, and it kind of helps me get my work done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to being motivated by her peers\u2019 success, McGregor also appreciates hearing about the various projects of other RAs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone’s research and what work they’re doing is just so different,\u201d she said. \u201cWhich is really cool and very unique to each person and their experience in the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research can take a long time \u2013 it\u2019s often not like a class assignment that is both started and finished in less than a few months \u2013 and it can be difficult to stay motivated during the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether students are starting new projects, presenting their results, or somewhere in between, \u201cI feel like that’s why I have to look to my peers and see what they’ve accomplished so far so I can really stay motivated to continue with my own work,\u201d McGregor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being an RA doesn\u2019t just teach students how to build an evidence table or comb literature for relevant background information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel like it is building critical thinking and thinking beyond the things right in front of you,\u201d said Ellison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think it’s really helped my skills as a student nurse.\u201d<\/p>\nserefine<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s really taught me how to ask more questions about things I read, like clinical outcomes, interventions, or things like that,” Serafine said. “It’s taught me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like many opportunities in life, \u201cyou’ll definitely get out of the program, and being an RA, whatever you put in,\u201d McGregor said. \u201cAnd since you are working on your own, the hours and the amount of effort you put in is really up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ellison noted how professors take students\u2019 workloads into consideration and how flexible they are with project deadlines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust keep your mind open to it, and if you have the time, go for it,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve really enjoyed it and I haven’t heard of anyone who hasn’t enjoyed it. So, it’s a great experience.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ever wonder what it\u2019s like to work as a research assistant (RA) in the School…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3526,"featured_media":197495,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[391,4073,361],"tags":[4063,4099,4098,4068,4101],"class_list":["post-197494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-son-bachelor","category-office-of-research","category-son","tag-bsn","tag-nursing-research","tag-pre-license","tag-research","tag-undergraduate-research-assistants"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.boisestate.edu\/nursing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2025\/04\/DSC04467-web-opt-1024x682.jpg\")
How does it work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Benefits and Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Considering being an RA? Here\u2019s their advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n