SLL Scholarship

Arizona College of Nursing, Las Vegas, Nevada I still remember the weight of responsibility the first time my Marine looked at me not just as his Doc, but as the person standing between him and death. In that moment, titles did not matter. What mattered was whether I was prepared. Whether I was steady. Whether I was worthy of the trust placed in me. That experience shaped how I understand healthcare; not as a job, but as a sacred responsibility. That is why one of the most significant areas for growth in nursing today is strengthening the transition from graduation to true professional readiness. Too many new nurses step into practice with knowledge but without confidence, licensure but without seasoned judgment. In a healthcare environment increasingly shaped by technology and task completion, there is a risk of prioritizing checklists over character and efficiency over resilience. When that happens, patient care may be performed, but it isn't fully owned by the healthcare provider. This is not a criticism of the profession I respect deeply. It is a call to reinforce it. As a man of faith, husband, father of five, and 22-year combat veteran, I have cared for the sick and injured in emergency rooms, operating rooms, clinics, the back of Humvees, and across the battlefield. In those environments, readiness was not theoretical; it was life-preserving. My mentors did not simply train me in procedures; they trained my mindset. They understood that earning the title “Doc” meant carrying weight: competence under pressure, calm in chaos, humility in leadership, and unwavering responsibility for those entrusted to my care. They prepared me before the moment demanded it. That culture of preparation and accountability is what I am committed to strengthening in nursing. First, I will lead by example. Leadership is not a position; it is a pattern of behavior. I will model disciplined preparation, clinical excellence, integrity, and service in every environment I enter. New nurses do not need lowered standards; they need visible examples of what right looks like. Confidence grows when excellence is consistently demonstrated. I intend to be that example. Second, I will intentionally invest in mentorship. The transition from student to practicing nurse is one of the most vulnerable periods in a nurse’s career. Without guidance, uncertainty becomes burnout. With mentorship, uncertainty becomes growth. I will challenge new nurses to think critically, reflect honestly, and develop resilience; not by shielding them from difficulty, but by walking beside them through it. Mentorship is how standards are preserved, and character is forged. Ultimately, I will pursue a career in nursing education to contribute to the profession at its foundation. Education is where identity is formed. I want future nurses to graduate understanding that nursing is not merely a paycheck; it is stewardship of human life and well-being. My faith teaches me that service is not optional; it is obedience. I carry that conviction into healthcare. When nurses recognize the sacred trust placed in them, they rise to meet it with discipline and purpose. The public entrusts nurses with their most vulnerable moments. That trust deserves leaders who refuse complacency and choose preparation every day. I have lived in environments where readiness determined outcomes and leadership required stepping forward without hesitation. I will bring that same standard to nursing. If selected for the Lorenzini Scholarship, this investment will not stop with my education; it will multiply through every nurse I mentor, every student I teach, and every patient entrusted to my care. Responsibility is not something I take lightly. It is something I carry. And I am prepared to carry it well.

I am a current student at Arizona College of Nursing in Las Vegas, and I chose to write about burnout in nursing. It is heavily backed by statistics that nursing burnout is a major issue for patient safety. As a mother of four, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that burnout really takes a toll on your ability to function to your full capacity. Experiencing burnout can lead to lack of care, mistakes, and shortages in the profession. The lack of care that patients experience is due to exhaustion both physically and mentally. When you are no longer there mentally, you will make mistakes eventually that can cost a patient their life. Physical exhaustion can take you out completely and cause irreversible damage to your body. There are reasons that rules should be put into place on how many patients can be assigned to one nurse, but sadly most states do not have caps (No Limits: In 49 States, Nurses Have No Cap on How Many Patients Theyâ€TMRe Assigned, 2017). I will be the nurse to advocate for safe staffing and pay attention to detail even when I am overwhelmed because I have plenty of experience as a mother of four. Mistakes can happen to anyone, but they are more likely to occur when you are completely burnt out with no end in sight to the problem. Studies show that more patients per nurse equate to higher death rates and errors occurring, which is a terrifying reality (The Science of Ratios, 2025). I plan to be the nurse to support coworkers and not add to the stress, such as creating groups to support each other. I fully believe in the power of support for healthcare workers. Shortages are brought on by burnout because when you are overworked for so long that you can no longer physically, mentally, or emotionally go on, most will eventually leave to feel better. When nurses experience burnout and quit, it makes the shortage worse, which in turn leads to more burnout and shortages. I plan to push for change using the data available to show the need for caps on the amount of patients. I want to lessen the overload for my (future) fellow nurses and show them that things can change; someone just needs to take the first step. Nursing exists in a space where both the best and hardest part of humanity meet, but we should not be the ones causing the harm when all we want to do is make a difference. I truly believe that if we reduce burnout with caps on the number of patients, we can create a safer environment for both nurses and patients. As a future nurse, I will not ignore what is going on around me or what people are feeling. I will advocate for what is right, support my staff, and care for anyone in need. At the end of the day, every patient deserves a nurse who is fully present for them, and every nurse deserves the chance to be. References No Limits: In 49 States, Nurses Have No Cap on How Many Patients Theyâ€TMre Assigned. (2017, December 6). National Nurses United. https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/blog/no-limits-49-states-nurses-have-no-cap-how-many-patients-theyaeutmre-assigned The science of ratios. (2025, May 22). National Nurses United. https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/science-of-ratios

I attend the Arizona College of Nursing at the Las Vegas campus. One area for growth in the nursing profession is strengthening and empowering compassion in patient care. Growing up in a Filipino household, I learned the word "malasakit," which means “compassion and empathy,” but also something deeper. It is a feeling so strong that it moves a person to take action. This value has shaped how I see nursing and what I believe deserves more attention in healthcare. While nurses are trained to provide safe and effective care, the emotional side of nursing can be affected by stress, burnout, and heavy workloads. As a result, compassion can sometimes be overlooked, even though it is an essential part of truly caring for patients. During one of my clinical rotations, I cared for a patient with ovarian cancer that had metastasized to multiple areas of her body. She was no longer receiving chemotherapy and was preparing to transition to end-of-life care. She required around-the-clock pain management due to constant pain. My nurse administered her Dilaudid medication, but an hour later, she was still in severe pain. While in the medication room, I overheard another nurse express frustration, saying the patient frequently requested pain medication and used the call light often. Hearing this was difficult and made me realize how burnout and stress can affect compassion and how easily vulnerable patients can be misunderstood. In that moment, I remembered the word "malasakit" and what it means to me, which moved me to speak up and take action for my patient. I spoke with my nurse and advocated for the patient, explaining that her pain level was still high despite medication and that she might need to be reevaluated. Seeing her still in pain stayed with me, and I knew I could not just stand there and do nothing. It reminded me that being a nurse is not just about feeling empathy; it is about having the courage to speak up when your patient needs you. That moment shaped the kind of nurse I want to be, someone who pays attention, cares deeply, and does not stay silent when something is not right. As I continue my journey in nursing, I plan to bring "malasakit" into my everyday practice by being present with my patients, especially during their most vulnerable moments. To me, compassion means enduring with others, standing beside them in their pain and suffering, and doing what I can to ease that burden. Whether it is through providing comfort, offering reassurance, or advocating for better care, I want my patients to feel seen, heard, and supported. I also believe that for nurses to give compassion, they must receive it as well. This profession faces real challenges, such as stress, frustration, and burnout, which affect the delivery of care. Because of this, I want to help create a work environment where nurses feel supported by being a team player, helping when others are overwhelmed, and encouraging open communication. I also hope to take part in unit-based efforts to improve workflow and reduce burnout. Even small actions, like checking in on a coworker or offering encouragement, can help create a more supportive environment. When nurses feel supported, they are better able to show up for their patients. By leading with compassion and continuing to advocate for both patients and nurses, I hope to help strengthen the human side of healthcare. "Malasakit" is more than a value I was raised with. It is the reason I will always choose to act, advocate, and stand beside my patients when they need it most.

I chose to attend the Arizona College of Nursing because I realized I needed a program that would genuinely prepare me for the responsibilities and complexities of becoming a nurse. Before enrolling here, I attended another nursing school that was primarily online. Although I put in my best effort, I felt that the lack of hands-on experience made it difficult to build the clinical confidence and practical skills required in nursing. Nursing is a profession rooted in human connection, observation, and direct care, things that cannot be fully developed through virtual learning alone. When I researched the Arizona College of Nursing, I was immediately drawn to its immersive, in-person approach. The program’s structure, skills labs, and strong instructor involvement made me feel like I would finally have the foundation I needed to succeed. Since starting my journey here, I have truly thrived, not just scholastically, but with an extracurricular activity like being elected Recording Secretary for Arizona College’s Student Nurses’ Association. One aspect that has exceeded my expectations is the quality of the faculty. Every professor I have had, from general education to my core nursing courses, has been supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in my success. Their passion for teaching and their dedication to helping students understand complex material have made an incredible difference in my confidence and learning experience. Their encouragement has reaffirmed that choosing Arizona College of Nursing was the right decision. My path to nursing was not a straight line. For a long time, I wanted to become a physical therapist. I was drawn to rehabilitation and the idea of helping patients regain strength and independence. However, while working closely with patients and listening to them describe their surgeries and recovery journeys, I found myself becoming deeply interested in the nursing roles that supported them throughout those experiences. Many shared stories about nurses who prepared them for surgery, monitored them in the PACU, or worked with them during rehabilitation. Hearing how impactful nurses were during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives made me reconsider my career path. I chose nursing because it combines compassion, clinical expertise, education, and advocacy. It allows me to be present with patients in ways that are meaningful and life-changing. Nursing feels like a natural fit for me because I am someone who is empathetic, patient, curious, and motivated by the opportunity to care for others. I hope to one day become an OR, PACU, or rehabilitation nurse so that I can support patients during critical moments while applying advanced skills in a high-acuity environment. This scholarship would significantly reduce the financial strain of attending a private accelerated nursing program. Because the workload is intense and requires full-time study, I am not able to work right now, which adds another layer of stress to managing tuition and living expenses. Receiving this scholarship would ease that burden and allow me to focus fully on my coursework and clinical preparation without the constant worry of finances. It would also provide the stability I need to continue progressing confidently toward graduation. Ultimately, this scholarship would not only support my education but it would help shape the kind of nurse I will become. It would allow me to remain fully dedicated to my training, to show up for my patients with confidence and compassion, and to honor the commitment I have made to this profession. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to apply, and I hope to continue this journey with the support of your investment in my future.

Caring for others is fundamental to who I am. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl, and my career path so far has solidified this dream. I began as a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), where I realized my love for hands-on care and felt a powerful clarity about my future in nursing. I later served as a Direct Support Professional, caring for individuals with disabilities. This role taught me how to connect with people from all backgrounds and reaffirmed my goal: I eventually plan to open a group home that caters specifically to this demographic, building on what was one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. My experience as a PCA also brought me to a hospice client who lacked a strong support system. My duties went beyond physical care, extending to cooking, cleaning, and companionship. We spent hours talking about her life, her family, and her current feelings. In those final days, I made sure she felt joy, deep compassion, and cared-for company. It was this experience that revealed my true calling: hospice nursing. Providing comfort, empathy, and dignity during a person's final moments is the most rewarding feeling. Death is frightening, and no one should face it alone or uncared for. I chose Arizona College of Nursing because of its excellent reviews and my commitment to obtaining the best education possible. I am a single mother of four children, pushing through school and managing significant financial and personal hardship. I have faced having my car stolen and experiencing homelessness, yet I continue to fight and maintain a strong GPA. I want to show my children that when you want something badly enough, you will fight for it. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college, and I strive to be the inspiration my kids deserve. This has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, times of my life, and I am incredibly proud of my ability to persevere while maintaining my commitment to school. This scholarship would allow me to finish my education with the ease of bringing down my balance owed to the school and significantly lighten my already full load. Nursing is my dream, and I am determined to reach the finish line so that I can dedicate my career to bringing empathy, compassion, and joy to the lives of others. I appreciate the opportunity to share my journey with you.