When I immigrated to the United States with my parents at the age of fifteen, I often found myself in drained confidence and isolation due to the lack of friends and communication skills. It was difficult for me to mould my goals and aspiration in the beginning because of the loneliness, stress and fear. However, I gradually found myself going to the library and renting movies and books to improve my linguistic and writing skills and staying after school for english prep classes for the regents exam. Having spoken or written no english prior to that I started to write essays and passed the regents exam which helped me boost my confidence. Mathematical was my strength in high school days, which I used for my advantage to make friends.
When I reminisce those days, I realize that if it was for my persistence, hard work and determination I would not have been where I am today. It did not take me too long to realize that, tenacity and success are parallel. Being put in this stressful situation as a teenager I learned to solve problems and to utilize my strength for my advantage while benefiting others. This experience in my early adolescence helps me tremendously as a health care professional. It helps me to understand the emotions of weak and vulnerable. When I meet somebody who does not speak english or a rebellious teenager who is helpless in a hospital bed I can empathize with them and I make sure to use a translator phone or anticipate needs considering the fear or isolation they might feel.
My desire to become a nurse stemmed from my experience with the older adult population while I was working on my bachelors degree at The State University at buffalo. I always wanted to pursue a career in healthcare field. Therefore, I volunteered at a nursing home where I contributed 200hrs/semester. This provided me with an opportunity to help serve the community and to realize the fragility of human life and the role of a nurse. I shadowed a nurse and witnessed that nursing is a gifted job. One of the most fascinating facts about this job is that, nursing needs a holistic approach; One can have the best theoretical and clinical knowledge and still be the worst nurse.
Nursing is a profession where caring, respect for human dignity, compassion and patience are customary along with educational and professional skills. However, my passion for nursing career was fully shaped during my brief vacation to India to visit my severely ill grandparent. Having spent most of the vacation at the hospital, I receives a chance to observe and distinguish different nursing practices two different pats of the world; and to see how different and similar this profession is in two separate environments.
On one side, nursing care is provided with the least resources and support from the medical community where as on the other side, nursing is respected and respected by the interdisciplinary team. Despite of these observations, being a nurse for the past two years, has taught me that this is a challenging and demanding profession which requires interpersonal skills as much as educational and clinical knowledge.
I have been working at Montefiore medical Center since 2012 where my passion for nursing has grown further. As a novice nurse I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work at an educational facility where learning is welcomed and supported. Working at this facility provides me with an importunity imply the multifaceted roles of a nurse such as a teacher, counselor and patient advocate in addition to providing hands on patient care which is very rewarding. The exposure to a variety of diagnoses and its nursing care, patients from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, new medical devices and application of evidence based practice further contributed to expansion of my knowledge and nursing skills.
My involvement in several volunteering services and and community events I aspire to become a nurse practitioner because it will help me further my involvement in patient care by giving scope to diagnose and treat health problems, conduct risk analysis and nursing education and help manage chronic illness. I am proud of being a nurse and I am convinced that advancing in this profession will reward me with great self satisfaction and give me an opportunity to make positive change in people’s lives and serve the community in the best way I can. My personal and work experiences, education and upbringing have helped me best choose my career and shape the personal I am. I selected this institution because of the excellent academic reputation, research opportunities and commitment to the community.
