I have been a nursing student for eight months and have worked in a variety of different clinics with patients who have an array of disease and sickness. I have been fortunate to learn from some very sensational nurses. Being a nurse is all that I thought it would be and more.
I decided to enter nursing because of my family’s history of cardiovascular disease which caused my grandfather and father to succumb to heart failure in their mid 50’s. Many people are drawn to this profession because of personal experience and my personal experience allows me to connect with my patients and give them a piece of who I am while letting them know I am there for them. I enjoy walking into a patient’s room and getting to know them and what their needs are. The work is hard, but the satisfaction of helping others gives me a sense of accomplishment.
When I received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation NCIN scholarship, I was very appreciative and excited. It was the first time I had received a scholarship and I really did not know what to expect. The professional assistance that accompanied the scholarship is excellent. My fellow classmate recipients and I have access to programs and professionals who have counseled and assisted us from the very beginning of our program. Our instructors also recognize us as being Robert Wood Johnson Scholars when they greet us, which is very rewarding in itself. I cannot begin to explain how much the Foundation has been a positive component as well as instrumental in guiding me through a tough and rigorous Master’s Entry program in Nursing. As previously mentioned, this is my very first scholarship and I would never have dreamed that it would provide as much help and guidance as has provided.
I believe nursing is caring about others. I pray before every shift that I can make a difference in at least one of my patient’s life. My experience has been brief, but eventful, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation NCIN scholarship has made it possible for me to continue my education and make a difference in the lives of as many patients as I can.
