afaes91113
Dec 11, 2014
Graduate / 'passionate about making a difference in the lives' - Family Nurse Practitioner Admission Essay [7]
1) What specifically are your academic and career goals?
2) What are your motivations for seeking advanced education in your designated specialty area?
3) How did you come to your decision to seek graduate education in this specialty area?
4) What are your primary attributes and what is the relationship of these attributes to your potential as a masters-prepared nurse?
As a Flight Nurse in the United States Air Force, I will have the opportunity to serve the soldiers and their families who serve this country. These soldiers fight on the front lines to defend our safety and freedom. In my nearly three years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN), I have come to realize that Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) are on the front lines of health care. I write this narrative with hopes the admissions committee can discern my passion for furthering my education and advancing my nursing practice.
In nearly three years of experience as a RN, many of my patients had one thing in common. Their hospital admissions could have been prevented by efficient, personalized primary care. My previous experience as a medical/surgical nurse and currently as a neurosurgical/trauma nurse on a progressive care unit has enlightened me with greater insight on how I can fill the gap as a FNP. I spent over a year and a half on a medical/surgical unit where I encountered many patients with orthopedic, gastrointestinal, and various other medical issues. Many of these patients needed their gallbladder removed or a partial colectomy or had a colostomy procedure. A significant number of the patients who I currently care for on the neurosurgical/trauma unit have suffered from a cerebral vascular attack. Unhealthy lifestyles that induce comorbidities oftentimes lead to the surgeries and illnesses mentioned above. It is evident to me, more than ever, just how imperative primary care is to health prevention, promotion, and education. As a FNP, I will strongly adhere to health prevention, promotion, and education to decrease hospital admissions and readmissions for my patients. I will also utilize these three components to address the alarming fact that the next generation of children has a shorter lifespan than their parents. This reality breaks my heart. 10 years ago I presented a speech my freshman year of college in which I shared how a large percentage of this country is overweight and a significant proportion is obese. Currently, these percentages have grown which is indicative of a deficient healthcare system. I want to be on the front lines doing my part to revolutionize the state of health in this country. Through individualized care plans, I will have the ability to transform lives. If we, as health care professionals, can cultivate a healthy foundation in our patients, then we can begin to stabilize the foundation of our healthcare system.
My motivation for pursuing an advanced degree in nursing has evolved from my passion for providing holistic care. Validation to become a nurse occurred early in nursing school when I had a patient who just learned she was in renal failure. The doctors told her she would need a port placed for life-saving dialysis. She expressed her fear with me as she began to cry. My depth of knowledge at this point was very shallow. All I knew to do in that moment was pray with her. She held my hand a little longer and thanked me. Later that day, her family was at the bedside and it was time for her procedure. Her son attempted to hold her hand and she told him no because she wanted to hold my hand. This moment impacted me greatly. It reminded me a great deal of how I wished somebody would have made me feel as a child being in and out of the doctors' offices and hospitals with my grandfather. My grandparents raised me and I witnessed my grandfather's peaks and valleys until he passed away. From receiving a quadruple bypass, a knee replacement resulting in renal failure, and dialysis for the last four years of his life, I cannot recall a single memory of a nurse or doctor instilling hope in me. The greatest disappointment I can remember is feeling like his primary care doctor did not care. The physician did his job but was not personable or holistic about it. In my nearly three years of experience as a Registered Nurse, I have found it very difficult to provide the level of holistic care I desire for my patients. The tasks and demands of being a bedside nurse greatly hinder my efforts of providing holistic care. In addition to those tasks and demands, working in a hospital allows me to care for patients only for a short period of time. I want to give my patients more of what I have to offer. My desire is to understand my patients for who they are rather than a medical diagnosis. I want to establish long term relationships with my patients and be a constant influence for them. Individuals need to feel educated and empowered to save their own lives. As a FNP, I will have an ideal platform to instill these tools within my patients.
I plan to excel academically if fortunate enough to be selected. An instructor of mine at Commissioned Officer Training for the Air Force said, "Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence." This is the mindset I carry with me in all endeavors and will continue to do so in advancing my education. Being selected to pursue graduate studies in 2015 is my five year plan coming to fruition. Becoming a FNP through THE Ohio State University would be a dream come true. I intend to graduate with honors while being in the top 10% of my class. I understand this achievement is gained by a high, consistent level of performance. My past accomplishments have proven me capable of such a performance. This is a challenge I am very excited to take on. The vision I have for my career transcends beyond the community I will serve. My heart is to serve patients of all ages and backgrounds. As a flight nurse in the Air Force, I will be able to take my expertise to parts of the world I never thought I would see. I also yearn to serve those across oceans who have very little. For many years, I have been a part of a church who financially serves individuals in underdeveloped African countries. Recently, my church partnered with an organization to make shoes in an effort to decrease the spread of diseases that can enter through the feet. I want to serve these individuals face-to-face. My wish is to bring them comfort and care as I hope to impart on all of my patients.
I am confident I have many personal attributes that reflect a masters-prepared nurse. My persistence and determination carried me through my first bachelor's degree while working three jobs just to pay for school. I maintained the same focus while achieving my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through a rigorous 13 month program at Mount Carmel College of Nursing. I have a proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups of individuals. As a youth pastor, a substitute teacher, and a baseball coach, I have had the privilege of working and connecting with children of all ages. Being a pastor presented many opportunities to converse with children and adults. My previous degree in Exercise Science and Pre-Physical Therapy will add another dimension to my nursing practice. The past few years as a bedside nurse have allowed me to incorporate all of my skills and implement them as a health care provider. My experience in the military has instilled a certain work ethic in me, along with a strong sense of discipline. I am proud to serve my country and I would be just as proud to officially call myself a Buckeye.
I want to thank those who have taken the time to read about my journey. I hope to be a part of the incoming class in Autumn of 2015. Go Bucks!
1) What specifically are your academic and career goals?
2) What are your motivations for seeking advanced education in your designated specialty area?
3) How did you come to your decision to seek graduate education in this specialty area?
4) What are your primary attributes and what is the relationship of these attributes to your potential as a masters-prepared nurse?
As a Flight Nurse in the United States Air Force, I will have the opportunity to serve the soldiers and their families who serve this country. These soldiers fight on the front lines to defend our safety and freedom. In my nearly three years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN), I have come to realize that Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) are on the front lines of health care. I write this narrative with hopes the admissions committee can discern my passion for furthering my education and advancing my nursing practice.
In nearly three years of experience as a RN, many of my patients had one thing in common. Their hospital admissions could have been prevented by efficient, personalized primary care. My previous experience as a medical/surgical nurse and currently as a neurosurgical/trauma nurse on a progressive care unit has enlightened me with greater insight on how I can fill the gap as a FNP. I spent over a year and a half on a medical/surgical unit where I encountered many patients with orthopedic, gastrointestinal, and various other medical issues. Many of these patients needed their gallbladder removed or a partial colectomy or had a colostomy procedure. A significant number of the patients who I currently care for on the neurosurgical/trauma unit have suffered from a cerebral vascular attack. Unhealthy lifestyles that induce comorbidities oftentimes lead to the surgeries and illnesses mentioned above. It is evident to me, more than ever, just how imperative primary care is to health prevention, promotion, and education. As a FNP, I will strongly adhere to health prevention, promotion, and education to decrease hospital admissions and readmissions for my patients. I will also utilize these three components to address the alarming fact that the next generation of children has a shorter lifespan than their parents. This reality breaks my heart. 10 years ago I presented a speech my freshman year of college in which I shared how a large percentage of this country is overweight and a significant proportion is obese. Currently, these percentages have grown which is indicative of a deficient healthcare system. I want to be on the front lines doing my part to revolutionize the state of health in this country. Through individualized care plans, I will have the ability to transform lives. If we, as health care professionals, can cultivate a healthy foundation in our patients, then we can begin to stabilize the foundation of our healthcare system.
My motivation for pursuing an advanced degree in nursing has evolved from my passion for providing holistic care. Validation to become a nurse occurred early in nursing school when I had a patient who just learned she was in renal failure. The doctors told her she would need a port placed for life-saving dialysis. She expressed her fear with me as she began to cry. My depth of knowledge at this point was very shallow. All I knew to do in that moment was pray with her. She held my hand a little longer and thanked me. Later that day, her family was at the bedside and it was time for her procedure. Her son attempted to hold her hand and she told him no because she wanted to hold my hand. This moment impacted me greatly. It reminded me a great deal of how I wished somebody would have made me feel as a child being in and out of the doctors' offices and hospitals with my grandfather. My grandparents raised me and I witnessed my grandfather's peaks and valleys until he passed away. From receiving a quadruple bypass, a knee replacement resulting in renal failure, and dialysis for the last four years of his life, I cannot recall a single memory of a nurse or doctor instilling hope in me. The greatest disappointment I can remember is feeling like his primary care doctor did not care. The physician did his job but was not personable or holistic about it. In my nearly three years of experience as a Registered Nurse, I have found it very difficult to provide the level of holistic care I desire for my patients. The tasks and demands of being a bedside nurse greatly hinder my efforts of providing holistic care. In addition to those tasks and demands, working in a hospital allows me to care for patients only for a short period of time. I want to give my patients more of what I have to offer. My desire is to understand my patients for who they are rather than a medical diagnosis. I want to establish long term relationships with my patients and be a constant influence for them. Individuals need to feel educated and empowered to save their own lives. As a FNP, I will have an ideal platform to instill these tools within my patients.
I plan to excel academically if fortunate enough to be selected. An instructor of mine at Commissioned Officer Training for the Air Force said, "Strive for perfection, but settle for excellence." This is the mindset I carry with me in all endeavors and will continue to do so in advancing my education. Being selected to pursue graduate studies in 2015 is my five year plan coming to fruition. Becoming a FNP through THE Ohio State University would be a dream come true. I intend to graduate with honors while being in the top 10% of my class. I understand this achievement is gained by a high, consistent level of performance. My past accomplishments have proven me capable of such a performance. This is a challenge I am very excited to take on. The vision I have for my career transcends beyond the community I will serve. My heart is to serve patients of all ages and backgrounds. As a flight nurse in the Air Force, I will be able to take my expertise to parts of the world I never thought I would see. I also yearn to serve those across oceans who have very little. For many years, I have been a part of a church who financially serves individuals in underdeveloped African countries. Recently, my church partnered with an organization to make shoes in an effort to decrease the spread of diseases that can enter through the feet. I want to serve these individuals face-to-face. My wish is to bring them comfort and care as I hope to impart on all of my patients.
I am confident I have many personal attributes that reflect a masters-prepared nurse. My persistence and determination carried me through my first bachelor's degree while working three jobs just to pay for school. I maintained the same focus while achieving my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through a rigorous 13 month program at Mount Carmel College of Nursing. I have a proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups of individuals. As a youth pastor, a substitute teacher, and a baseball coach, I have had the privilege of working and connecting with children of all ages. Being a pastor presented many opportunities to converse with children and adults. My previous degree in Exercise Science and Pre-Physical Therapy will add another dimension to my nursing practice. The past few years as a bedside nurse have allowed me to incorporate all of my skills and implement them as a health care provider. My experience in the military has instilled a certain work ethic in me, along with a strong sense of discipline. I am proud to serve my country and I would be just as proud to officially call myself a Buckeye.
I want to thank those who have taken the time to read about my journey. I hope to be a part of the incoming class in Autumn of 2015. Go Bucks!
