Dana Laura Sahadeo

On my news feed this morning, a quotation from Northwest University captured my attention. It read “Don’t just see the world. Change the world”. On January 10th, 2014, my cousin passed away at the age of 26. Hours after complaining of severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting, she was admitted to the intensive care unit in a prestigious hospital in the country of Trinidad & Tobago. She was alert and oriented on admission, however; four days later, she went into a coma and never regained consciousness. One week after she was admitted to the hospital, she was pronounced dead. According to my uncle, the doctors and nurses did everything in their power to save my cousin’s life. Unfortunately, I was not comforted by my uncle’s words. I truly believe that the timeliness of patient care and the availability of staff and resources in most American hospitals, would have given my cousin a better chance for survival. Being a nurse, I feel empowered to make a difference even more so after this tragic experience. I am eager to interact with patients in the United States of America and in developing countries. Provided the right drive and work ethics, my goal is to recognize areas in their healthcare system that requires further development and promote innovation.

My experience as a nurse thus far has made me appreciate without a doubt that becoming a nurse was one of the best decisions I made in my life. Being a nurse for almost two years, I have worked with the adult/geriatric population as well as the maternal/infant population. In both patient populations, I was thrilled to see how the small things I do as a nurse, have significantly contributed to my success in this career path. Small things that may seem trivial such as building trust with my patients, taking a few moments to listen to their concerns, providing health education, performing caring gestures and simply doing nursing with love and passion have allowed me to touch many lives in a short period of time. There is no greater feeling than the feeling you get at the moment in which you connect with your patient and you know that he/she can sense your desire to do everything in his/her best interest.

Throughout the nursing journey, I have understood that nursing is far more complex than administering medications and mastering skills. As a nurse, I strive each day to heal my patients physically, emotionally and mentally with the hope of eventually gaining a deeper understanding of their needs. Working with the adult/geriatric population, I enjoy the opportunity to feed, ambulate and communicate with my patients. My reward is seeing my patients improve day after day and being discharged home in stable condition. My true passion in nursing however, stemmed from working with the maternal/infant population. Bringing a new life into the world is one of the most exciting, life-changing events for most families. A mother bonding with her newborn is a fascinating and extremely unique moment in nature. I have never seen such immense connection and unconditional love. It is amazing to see how a tiny, innocent human being can bring people close together despite family and social dynamics.
Two weeks ago, I got accepted to Stony Brook University’s School of Nursing Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program for summer, 2014. This program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For me, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. With a DNP degree, I would like to further develop my leadership skills and contribute to nursing management. My doctoral education will help me to fulfill my dream of becoming what Dr. Patricia Benner referred to as an “expert nurse”, a nurse that can visualize the entire clinical picture and knows what is required to be done without much scrutiny. Striving towards evidence-based practice, a DNP degree will provide me with the scientific knowledge and skills deemed necessary to improve patient care and safety. I envision myself as a future leader in the field of nursing. I feel blessed to have received the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) NCIN Scholarship three years ago when I got accepted to Stony Brook University’s School of Nursing, One Year Accelerated Nursing Program. It has inspired me to reach for the stars. Mother Teresa once stated, “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” I am living my dreams. Dreams become reality if you believe.

I feel privileged to have worked with my RWJ scholarship mentor, Dr. Lori Escallier. I have not only gained a mentor but I have made a lifelong friend. Most people consider themselves fortunate to have a family; I however, am lucky to have two. The world of nursing has allowed me to meet people that will forever hold a place in my heart. It is an absolute pleasure to be at the workplace everyday and I am extremely grateful to the field of nursing for giving me a strong sense of belonging in a world that most people feel lost in. There is nothing that can make me feel more accomplished than giving back to the field that has been so generous to me. Although it may be difficult for one person to make a difference, anything is possible with strength in numbers and teamwork. By earning a clinical doctorate in nursing, I will do my best to pass on my innovative mentality to the younger generation of nurses in hopes of one day having a workforce that is capable of making massive improvements in the profession. There is undoubtedly a long way ahead, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step after all.