Vanessa Vurno's well-honed skills as a master juggler are coming in handy this week.

While preparing for and taking final exams in her demanding nursing major, Vurno also is getting ready for Elms College's first ever NCAA tournament appearance in women's lacrosse.

Vurno learned to handle the challenging balancing act of a student-athlete during her East Lyme High School days.

"It's definitely hard," Vurno said on Tuesday. "But I played sports in high school. ... It kept me on a schedule. My grades are actually better in-season. That's just because it helps me time manage better."

A junior, Vurno is excelling athletically and academically at Elms, a private college in Chicopee, Mass.

She's an All-New England Collegiate Conference first team selection and ranks first in the league in points (85) and assists (33) and fourth in goals (52).

In Saturday's NECC Championship victory, Vurno ignited the attack with six goals and three assists in a 15-9 win over Wheelock College that secured the program's first title. She was named the tournament's most valuable player, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists in two postseason wins.

She's also in the college's honors program.

"She's very passionate," Elms coach Rosamaria Riccobono said. "She does a good balance of managing being a student-athlete. Her studies are really important to her and also being successful on the lacrosse field is very important to her. She's committed to both of those."

Entering college, Vurno was intimidated by playing on the next level. As a freshman, she set the program record for points in a season and earned NECC rookie of the year honors.

"I really had no idea what I was getting myself into," Vurno said. "I knew that nursing was a priority and lacrosse was just going to be something that I did for fun. ... I had no idea my playing time and had no idea the impact that I would make. I really surprised myself when I earned rookie of the year because I hadn't really made much of an impact on my high school team."

Vurno is successfully balancing athletic and academic demands even though her schedule is crazy at times.

Nursing clinical days require rising as early as 5 a.m. More intense study hours occupy her time at night after practices and games.

"It's difficult but it's definitely doable," Vurno said. "It makes me well-rounded as well."

So why nursing?

Well, Vurno reached that important decision about her future while helping take care of her ailing grandmother, Ida.

Ida lived with Vurno's family for years before passing away when Vanessa was in high school. Vurno was extremely close to her grandmother, considering her a second mother.

It was a hard yet rewarding experience for Vurno, making her realize that nursing was her calling.

"I was able to take care of my grandmother for a couple of years toward the end of her life," Vurno said. "I saw the interactions in the hospital between her and the nurses. And I'm definitely a super affectionate, caring, giving person. I love to give back. I knew nursing was perfect because I have the communication skills, the passion and also compassion to take of those who can't take care of themselves.

"There's a quote that I like, something about it could be the worst day of their life basically and you're the one to be there for them holding their hand and being there at their bedside to listen to them. I just love that. I love leaving my clinical day knowing that I made a difference, even if it is just a small difference."

Vurno has lined up a student nurse internship for the summer, working in the intensive care unit at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. She hopes it eventually leads to a spot in the graduate nurse residency program.

She's not ready for the lacrosse season to end just yet. Elms plays Springfield College in the Division III program's NCAA tournament debut Saturday at Trinity College in Hartford.

"We're nervous and anxious, but also excited," Vurno said. "We made program history. We had never won a championship before so going into this we're really excited. Regardless of the outcome, we're just really proud of how far we've made it."

g.keefe@theday.com