“So, why did you want to be a nurse?” was always a dreaded question for me. I lack an exciting “aha” moment or divine intervention that many nurses report. I never experienced being patient nor did I have a loved one that required a hospitalization. Coming from a family of nurses, discussing the inner workings of the hospital over family meals was the norm for as long as I can recall. Instead of inspiring me to become a nurse, it did the opposite. The idea of blood, vomit, or other bodily fluids was nauseating. From a young age, I “knew” I was not interested in pursuing as a career as a nurse.
It was not until high school that I decided to volunteer at Milford Hospital, a small community hospital. In my role as a “Junior Volunteer,” I was responsible for transporting patients, refilling water pitches, delivering meal trays, and providing companionship to those in need. I immediately noticed the effects that these seemingly trivial tasks had on patients. Listening to a dying patient happily recount his life story or giving a recently paralyzed patient dignity while feeding them felt exhilarating. I was inspired to give more, but was limited by my role as a volunteer. It was at Milford Hospital that I realized I could get beyond the initial revulsion of bodily fluids if I was able to touch a life each and every day.
I attended Fairfield University and earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. From there I began my career as a Registered Nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital in the Surgical Trauma/Stepdown Unit. It is here where I became an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, therefore bringing with me a passion for teamwork, combined with an ability to think on my feet, and quickly adapt to challenges. I have successfully mastered technical skills and developed strong critical thinking and clinical decision making skills, allowing me to address individualized patient needs, provide holistic care for patients and families, and develop therapeutic patient-nurse relationships.
In my current role I develop positive rapports and therapeutic relationships with patients and families, only to have the relationship end when the patient leaves the unit. I frequently find myself wondering about a patient’s progress long after he or she is transferred to another unit or discharged to short term rehabilitation or home. This is one of the several factors motivating me to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. As a primary care FNP, I will have the ability to provide continuous comprehensive care and maintain a nurse-patient relationship across the lifespan.
Additionally, I work with a patient population that often suffers from preventable accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Unfortunately, by the time I encounter these patients, the damage cannot be reversed. By working as a primary care provider, I will have the privilege to address accident and injury prevention, health promotion, and disease prevention while patients are healthy. It is the hope that this commitment to preventive care will improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Throughout my life I have known the value of a quality education. Choosing Sacred Heart University is a logical choice for my graduate education. Sacred Heart has come highly recommended by several Family Nurse Practitioners I have had the pleasure of working with, one who noted the school’s reputation and professional staff. From all I have seen, what makes Sacred Heart stand out is their unwavering interest in prospective students as well as their commitment to flexibility in education.
