After eight months as a nursing student in the accelerated program, I have come to appreciate the role nurses play in bringing pain relief, comfort, assurance and support to millions of patients whom they care for daily. Their knowledge of the disease process and the rationale for every intervention is astounding. Nursing is a unique field with its own set of reasoning and operation. I believe a better understanding of key concepts like the nursing process, prioritization and therapeutic communication is surely the difference between a good nurse and a great nurse. Even with very little clinical experience, patients have told me how much they appreciate the care I provide to them. Whether it be listening to them verbalize their concerns, validating their feelings, answering questions, administering medications or just assisting with self-care activities, I understand the importance of being a compassionate nurse. Without a nurse at the bedside to carry out these interventions, hospitalization stay can be prolonged, and mortality will spike. Though these interventions sound simple, it is actually tough because of the increasing patient- to- client ratio. By prioritizing and collaborating with other health care team players nurses handle these tasks without being totally overwhelmed rather fulfilled.
I also believe this about nursing that it is the career everyone wants to pursue because of the job security, good pay and even growing prestige. As most sectors lose jobs because of the recession, nursing jobs and nursing school application is on the rise. When I tell people I am in the nursing program they are quick to remind me of the unique advantages nursing has over most careers.
In addition, I believe that the sexist view that nursing was for females, and that men do not make good nurses is changing. More and more men are becoming nurses and providing wonderful care to their patients. Collaboration between male and female nurses is nothing short of excellent and mutual respect. That said, I think I have to be really thankful to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the scholarship which has taken a lot of financial stress off me because nursing school is also expensive.
The scholarship has actually charted a path for me to reach my highest ideals as a nurse—providing best care to my patient and growing personally. With so many higher degree programs in nursing, I believe the scholarship has ignited my desire to become one of the best and most qualified nurses in the country and internationally. Achieving this feat will certainly help me achieve my goals: training more nurses (who are in very short supply worldwide), share expertise and knowledge with other nurses and health professionals and hopefully bring down mortality from treatable and preventable diseases.
