Jessica Rollins

Nursing goes beyond helping others in their time of need.  I have been a nurse less than a year and I have already learned that.  When I first entered this profession I thought for sure I had a handle on what I was getting myself into, but boy have I been surprised.  Yes you are there for your patients, and their families, when they need you most, but you can’t do it without the support of the senior and other more experienced nurses.  No matter how many articles, books, projects, and clinical hours you put in, nothing prepares you like the hands on experience of real life, doing it yourself, under your own license without a preceptor!  However, being a nurse is about believing in yourself and knowing that you have what it takes to do better even when it seems insurmountable.  I believe nursing is knowing that even though you don’t see the tools in front of you it’s knowing that you have the tools to make the situation workout for the best. 

The RWJF/NCIN scholarship did just that for me.  I didn’t have all of the tools before me but they provided me with some of the tools I needed to begin this journey.  And now, look at me, I’m mentoring others.  Even better, I just received notice that they will be providing me with more funds almost 2 years later.  I plan to use those funds to get my Critical Care Certification this spring.  So again I say I believe nursing goes beyond helping others as it is a full circle of confidence when you are lending a hand and doing what you were born to do.