By Sarah Morgan Johnson
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing student and UAB baseball player Tyler Waugh, says nursing, just like baseball, is a team sport. For the past four years, the student-athlete has successfully balanced a busy practice and game schedule with a demanding course load. As he prepares to graduate in May and work in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit at UAB Hospital, Waugh is grateful for his time on the field and in the classroom.
Some of Waugh’s earliest memories are at the baseball park, and he struggles to remember a time when the sport was not a part of his life. Similarly, he envisioned a career for himself in the health care industry from a young age. When the time came for him to apply to college, Waugh realized he had the opportunity to merge these aspirations. For him, becoming a Blazer was the best choice.
“I knew I wanted to play baseball coming out of high school, and I got recruited to play at UAB. I also knew that the UAB School of Nursing is one of the top-rated nursing schools in the country and is known for working with student athletes to help them be successful at their sport and in nursing school at the same time. Putting all those pieces together, I felt like it was a no-brainer,” Waugh said.
As a pre-nursing student, Waugh was a Dean’s Nursing Scholar. Dean’s Scholars are pre-nursing students who receive priority admission to the School of Nursing during their senior year of high school if they have a 3.8 GPA and have been admitted through the UAB Office of Undergraduate Admission. Once enrolled at UAB, Dean’s Nursing Scholars must maintain a 3.2 GPA overall and in required nursing prerequisite courses. Waugh said his participation in this program held him accountable to take his prerequisite classes seriously and gave him a sense of security.
“It was very comforting to know I had a spot in the nursing school. This is a very competitive, fantastic nursing school, so that helped,” Waugh said.
During his first semester as a BSN student, he quickly learned the importance of time management and communication as he dove into classes and a packed baseball schedule. He would encourage other student-athletes to take a day-by-day approach and to invest in relationships with their professors and coaches.
“Take things one step at a time, because it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With baseball I’m traveling a lot and am out of state 45 days of the season, so being able to communicate effectively is a huge thing,” Waugh said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors—the faculty here at the School of Nursing want you to succeed and really do care about you.”
He keeps a positive outlook by staying present and remaining grateful for the opportunity to attend the school of his dreams while playing the game he loves. Waugh said support from his professors, coaching staff, friends and family has kept him grounded.
“I wouldn’t be able to do it without my faith and my amazing support system. I have great friends, family and coaching staff and a fantastic faculty here at the School of Nursing. They all push me to be my best and strive for my goals. It’s going to be tough no matter what, but my family reminds me to take things one day at a time and one step at a time. They tell me not to look too far into the future but to be present,” Waugh said.
As he anticipates the beginning of his nursing career, Waugh is thankful for the lessons he has learned as a student-athlete.
“Juggling baseball with my academics forced me to learn time management and communication skills, which I know will serve me well in the future. Baseball is just a game, but when I get to the hospital, it’s real life. It’s someone’s dad, someone’s mom or someone’s family that I’m responsible for,” Waugh said.
While it has been challenging at times, Waugh has never shied away from adversity.
“If life was easy all the time, I think it would be pretty boring,” Waugh said.
During his four years of UAB baseball, Waugh has cherished the friendships he has formed with teammates. At the School of Nursing, he considers his cohort his “team,” as they work toward a common goal and push one another to succeed. Between his baseball team and BSN cohort, Waugh feels equipped to join a much larger team of health care professionals in the hospital setting.
“Team building and baseball correlate hand in hand. On the baseball team we have roughly 40 people and in the nursing cohort we have around 150 people. Then in the hospital you have a whole team of health care providers. The nursing profession and baseball are both definitely team sports. If we have 39 good players and one bad player, then the team is going to struggle, and the same is true in the hospital setting. If you don’t have effective and clear communication, then you’re putting patients’ lives at risk,” Waugh said.
Whether he is representing UAB at a baseball game, caring for patients in a clinical, or studying for a test with his classmates, Waugh wears the Blazer name with pride.
“To be a Blazer is to have a commitment to excellence. You have to be willing to give it your all on and off the field. On the field I want to give back to the community and win for the school,” Waugh said. “When I’m at school, I remember that the UAB School of Nursing is one of the top nursing schools in the country. To be able to wear the green scrubs is a huge blessing. It also comes with a little pressure, but I like the challenge. There’s definitely a higher standard, and I take that with a lot of pride.”