Chun Chow

The nursing shortage in America is imminent. As our population grows older in the next decade, the demand for healthcare personnel, especially nurses, will increase dramatically. Today, there is an urgent need to call upon those with the courage, willingness, and compassion to help solve our upcoming healthcare crisis as we enter the 21st century.

The BSN program that I am currently attending at Azusa Pacific University (APU) is an accelerated, second-degree program that is highly focused in preparing students to become qualified nurses. The students in my program at APU have a diverse background of training and education, with first degrees ranging from theology to computer science. Each and every one of us has a unique and special story that describes why we put our lives on hold to train as nurses.

As a result of having numerous childhood diseases, I have always been fascinated by the magic of medicine in the human body. I completed my education in the field of organic chemistry and devoted the past five years working as a research scientist in drug discovery at a pharmaceutical company in San Diego, California. In short, my work resulted in the delivery of two experimental drugs into clinical trials and they have already benefited some patients with acute macular degeneration and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Although my previous career was exciting and rewarding, I missed the direct interaction with the very people whom I was trying to help. There were times I wished I could have spoken directly to the patients and let them know our tireless efforts and strong dedication to finding a cure for their illnesses. Hence, I made the conscious decision to enter into the nursing profession in the hopes that one day I would be in a position to directly serve those in need with care, love, respect, and most importantly, compassion. I will fully utilize my intellectual ability, experience from previous training, and understanding of others in the journey to master the art and science of the nursing practice.