Onome Osokpo
Winner:
February 2015
Class of 2012
I sat pondering in the chemistry lab at Certified Laboratories Inc. as I analyzed a sample of ground beef. One thought raced through my mind: Is this what I really want to do? I was proficient in food analysis as a food analytical chemist and got good evaluations from my manager, but I did not feel fulfilled.
At the same time, I was working as a Habilitation Specialist at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Suffolk. This is the place where the dream began — helping people with developmental disabilities function as independently as possible by implementing services using the ‘whole person’ approach. At UCP, it was a “different” me, initiating activities, responding to nonverbal cues and leading day treatment clubs. I was the recipient of the Performance Recognition Star Award (2008) and the Chief Executive Officer’s Life without Limits Award of Excellence (2010). After the latter award, it dawned on me: I needed to go into nursing.
My journey started at Stony Brook University, where I was accepted to the 12- month accelerated BSN program in 2011. I was fortunate to be a recipient of the RWJF-NCIN scholarship. The Pre-Immersion Program (PIP) was a solid preparation for me. During the first day of PIP, as I listened to Dr. Escallier, Associate Dean for Research, Assessment, Evaluation and Outcomes, and the RWJF-NCIN program liaison at Stony Brook, I knew that this was the beginning of a transformative adventure. Her words were few but powerful, gentle but thought provoking, and simple but with clear expectations. This was not just some giveaway scholarship, but an investment in a life, a future, a family, a community, and a nation!
The accelerated program was intense, but frequent meetings with Dr. Escallier and fellow scholars gave me needed “vitamins” to succeed in the program. The clinical rotations and simulation lab opened a world of possibilities in learning nursing science and the art of caring.
After the completion of my accelerated BSN program in June 2012, I was one of twelve scholars invited to attend the fifth annual NCIN Liaison Summit in Washington, DC. Our first meeting with Dr. Vernell DeWitty, Program Deputy Director, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing program, led to another chapter of possibilities in my nursing career. She said, “We brought you here because we believe that with your life experiences and education, you will bring transformative ideas that will address some of the challenges in the nursing profession.” With the leadership of Dr. DeWitty and guidance from faculty advisors, NCIN program liaisons, Drs. Aara Amidi-Nouri, and Susan Ward, we drafted a vision and mission statement for a newly created NCIN Scholars Network. I am one of the Steering Committee members of the NCIN Scholars Network.
After the Summit, armed with a NCIN scholar’s network mission and under the mentorship of Dr. Escallier, I started the Pharm-Assist Initiative at Stony Brook, helping nursing students navigate the challenges of the pharmacology course. In addition, I started to serve as a mentor to current NCIN scholars and other nursing students. Presently, I am working with other NCIN Scholars Network steering committee members to create programs and projects that will inspire innovation among NCIN scholars and connect them to resources that will enable them to engage the skills and experiences that they bring to the nursing profession. I am also a mentee in RWJF's Doctoral Advancement in Nursing (DAN) program.
I am currently a doctoral student at Stony Brook University’s School of Nursing Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. This program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. I am pursuing a DNP to become an Advance Practice Nurse not only to serve as a role model and a mentor to nursing students and nurses, but also to provide care to our diverse health care population in the primary care arena. I will also explore racial disparities in cardiovascular diseases, especially hypertension among blacks. I want to translate culturally relevant Interventional methods to the clinical landscape in an attempt to lower such disparities.
As a Registered Nurse, I am providing care to patients with a variety of medical conditions. I completed my nurse residency program and, through collaboration with my peers, promoted bedside rounding to improve patient experience. In November of 2014, I appointed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to the inaugural Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GSNA) Policy Committee. The committee is working to develop programs and resources that will directly address gaps in knowledge about the legislative and advocacy process among graduate nursing students. I also serve as the Stony Brook University Liaison for the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GSNA). As a Liaison, I help recruit and sustain a network of students with GNSA and also engage students in GNSA activities.
Furthermore, I sit on the New York State Diversity Subcommittee. Our committee is working to “support institutions in developing diverse and inclusive environments, and increase diversity in nursing education, leadership and practice in the NY state”. As a member of the NY State Black Nurses Association, I serve in the Health Fair and Community Service Committee. We are working with other organizations within communities to identify areas of health needs, and also provide health screening, promote health literacy, and connect individuals of the community with relevant and appropriate health resources.
My dream to grow, soar, teach, inspire, develop and implement plans of care, and collaborate with others to impact lives and communities is now a reality in nursing and yet, I continue to dream! I would like to personally thank the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Foundation for their support and ultimately inspiring me to continue to pursue my passion and dreams.
At the same time, I was working as a Habilitation Specialist at United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Suffolk. This is the place where the dream began — helping people with developmental disabilities function as independently as possible by implementing services using the ‘whole person’ approach. At UCP, it was a “different” me, initiating activities, responding to nonverbal cues and leading day treatment clubs. I was the recipient of the Performance Recognition Star Award (2008) and the Chief Executive Officer’s Life without Limits Award of Excellence (2010). After the latter award, it dawned on me: I needed to go into nursing.
My journey started at Stony Brook University, where I was accepted to the 12- month accelerated BSN program in 2011. I was fortunate to be a recipient of the RWJF-NCIN scholarship. The Pre-Immersion Program (PIP) was a solid preparation for me. During the first day of PIP, as I listened to Dr. Escallier, Associate Dean for Research, Assessment, Evaluation and Outcomes, and the RWJF-NCIN program liaison at Stony Brook, I knew that this was the beginning of a transformative adventure. Her words were few but powerful, gentle but thought provoking, and simple but with clear expectations. This was not just some giveaway scholarship, but an investment in a life, a future, a family, a community, and a nation!
The accelerated program was intense, but frequent meetings with Dr. Escallier and fellow scholars gave me needed “vitamins” to succeed in the program. The clinical rotations and simulation lab opened a world of possibilities in learning nursing science and the art of caring.
After the completion of my accelerated BSN program in June 2012, I was one of twelve scholars invited to attend the fifth annual NCIN Liaison Summit in Washington, DC. Our first meeting with Dr. Vernell DeWitty, Program Deputy Director, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing program, led to another chapter of possibilities in my nursing career. She said, “We brought you here because we believe that with your life experiences and education, you will bring transformative ideas that will address some of the challenges in the nursing profession.” With the leadership of Dr. DeWitty and guidance from faculty advisors, NCIN program liaisons, Drs. Aara Amidi-Nouri, and Susan Ward, we drafted a vision and mission statement for a newly created NCIN Scholars Network. I am one of the Steering Committee members of the NCIN Scholars Network.
After the Summit, armed with a NCIN scholar’s network mission and under the mentorship of Dr. Escallier, I started the Pharm-Assist Initiative at Stony Brook, helping nursing students navigate the challenges of the pharmacology course. In addition, I started to serve as a mentor to current NCIN scholars and other nursing students. Presently, I am working with other NCIN Scholars Network steering committee members to create programs and projects that will inspire innovation among NCIN scholars and connect them to resources that will enable them to engage the skills and experiences that they bring to the nursing profession. I am also a mentee in RWJF's Doctoral Advancement in Nursing (DAN) program.
I am currently a doctoral student at Stony Brook University’s School of Nursing Post-Baccalaureate to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. This program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. I am pursuing a DNP to become an Advance Practice Nurse not only to serve as a role model and a mentor to nursing students and nurses, but also to provide care to our diverse health care population in the primary care arena. I will also explore racial disparities in cardiovascular diseases, especially hypertension among blacks. I want to translate culturally relevant Interventional methods to the clinical landscape in an attempt to lower such disparities.
As a Registered Nurse, I am providing care to patients with a variety of medical conditions. I completed my nurse residency program and, through collaboration with my peers, promoted bedside rounding to improve patient experience. In November of 2014, I appointed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to the inaugural Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GSNA) Policy Committee. The committee is working to develop programs and resources that will directly address gaps in knowledge about the legislative and advocacy process among graduate nursing students. I also serve as the Stony Brook University Liaison for the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GSNA). As a Liaison, I help recruit and sustain a network of students with GNSA and also engage students in GNSA activities.
Furthermore, I sit on the New York State Diversity Subcommittee. Our committee is working to “support institutions in developing diverse and inclusive environments, and increase diversity in nursing education, leadership and practice in the NY state”. As a member of the NY State Black Nurses Association, I serve in the Health Fair and Community Service Committee. We are working with other organizations within communities to identify areas of health needs, and also provide health screening, promote health literacy, and connect individuals of the community with relevant and appropriate health resources.
My dream to grow, soar, teach, inspire, develop and implement plans of care, and collaborate with others to impact lives and communities is now a reality in nursing and yet, I continue to dream! I would like to personally thank the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Foundation for their support and ultimately inspiring me to continue to pursue my passion and dreams.
