Penny Nelk Nursing Scholarship

My journey toward becoming a nurse began long before I officially chose this career. I have spent more than a decade working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, beginning in 2012. Those early years in long-term care opened my eyes to the profound impact that compassionate caregiving can have on a person’s life. Over time, I came to understand that nursing is not just a job, it is a purpose. The experiences I’ve had professionally and personally, have shaped my commitment to pursue nursing and fueled the passion that keeps me moving forward. For the last eight years, I have worked in a long-term care facility where I built strong connections with residents and their families. Even though I am currently only able to work a few hours a month due to school and travel distance, I continue because the people there feel like family. Being at the bedside taught me how important it is to treat patients as whole people, individuals with personal histories, preferences, fears, and hopes. I learned that a gentle touch, a warm conversation, or simply sitting quietly with someone can provide comfort in ways medicine alone cannot. My grandmother’s developing dementia became an even deeper turning point in my decision to pursue nursing. I helped care for her at home until we could no longer safely meet her needs. When she was eventually admitted to the nursing facility where I worked, I was able to be part of her care as a caregiver and as her granddaughter. I saw how dementia slowly steals pieces of a person, but I also saw how compassionate care can preserve their dignity. Even when she could no longer recognize us, familiar sounds or the comfort of holding her hand brought her peace. Her passing in April was painful, but it reinforced why I want to be a nurse: to support families and patients through the hardest moments of their lives. In January 2023, I lost my father to a sudden heart attack. My husband and I performed CPR until help arrived, but he did not survive. That day changed me. My father was always one of my biggest supporters, especially when it came to my education. He believed deeply that I would make a great nurse. After his passing, that belief became an even stronger source of motivation. When school feels overwhelming, I remind myself that I am honoring him by continuing to pursue the career he always imagined for me. His loss strengthened my desire to be the kind of nurse who brings not only skill, but steadiness, empathy, and presence to families in crisis. Through my education, I hope to become a nurse who treats every patient with dignity, advocates for the vulnerable, and provides support to families navigating grief, illness, and uncertainty. I am especially drawn to working with the elderly, ensuring that their final years are met with respect, patience, and compassion. I believe that great nursing care can transform not just a patient’s experience, but the experience of those who love them. The nursing shortage in the United States has highlighted how essential nurses are to the health system, as well as the urgent need for new caregivers to step into the field. I am proud to be working toward becoming part of that next generation. My experiences have taught me that nursing is both a privilege and a responsibility, one that allows us to make a meaningful difference every single day. I hope to continue growing into the kind of nurse who brings comfort, hope, and strength to the people who need it most.