Carissa Jamison

As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a health care professional.  As a child, I would tell everyone that I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up.  However, as I grew older I had greater exposure to a variety of health care professions and health care issues which led me to take another course. 

Several of my family members became ill over time which led me to having to make numerous visits to a number of different hospitals and clinics.  While visiting, I observed my loved ones and their interactions with the nurses and doctors that serviced them and was made aware of how much the patient-to-nurse interaction shaped their experience.  I observed both spectrums—I saw nurses with a rude disposition create a negative experience for my loved ones, but on the other hand, I noticed how the caring and compassionate nurses instilled such hope and comfort to my family which is what inspired me to become a nurse.

I want to be the nurse that keeps her patients feelings and healthcare needs as a primary concern.  My goal is to make a difference in each patient and their family’s lives by being empathetic and helpful to the maximum of my ability. I have learned that nursing is a complex network of many different factors of care.  It takes hard work and perseverance to become a nurse, and even more work to become the caring and competent nurse that I strive to be.  While caring for patients during my clinical, I retain a positive attitude and remember first and foremost, my goal throughout each day is to provide excellent healthcare and to make the patients’ experiences as satisfying as possible.  Nursing is a privileged opportunity to impact the lives of others.