Vicki Sartin's Purpose in Nursing Scholarship

Have you ever sat on a see saw alone, just to hit the ground? Well, this is what motherhood is like with no support. Balancing being a single mother requires never-ending support. Without a support system, there would be no balance. Even if there is only one person, the see-saw will gain equilibrium. My name is Kenya Lindsey and I am a 26 year old single mother of 1 child. Currently, I am a fulltime project coordinator. As of August of 2022, I will no longer work as a project coordinator. At that point I will be a fulltime nursing student. Balancing being a single mother and working a fulltime job was a struggle, until I learned to not be afraid to ask for assistance. I went from being stable to struggling financially, and emotionally. However, after 9 months postpartum, I am now able to say that with effective time management, dedication, and support, I have found balance. Balance is never easy. It requires constantly reminding yourself to never quit and doing whatever it takes to stay afloat! It also requires a positive attitude so that one can maintain balance. In a world of single parenting and maintaining being a fulltime student or fulltime worker, I learned to remain grounded and optimistic. Life will forever be full of curve balls, but if I focus, I would see it coming and act accordingly. Though I am a fulltime worker at the moment, I have longed for this opportunity to become a nurse. I have anticipated nursing since early childhood. At that time, I was raised by my grandparents, who suffered from many health issues. The health issues that my grandparents faced includes: heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low potassium, and more. The very first time that I was held responsible for organizing their medication, checking their glucose levels and administering insulin, I knew that nursing was my future. My nursing journey has not been the typical road taken, but I will make it to where I want to be. I have always heard that, " The race isn't given to the swift nor the strong, but to the one who endured unto the end." However, as a single mother and in the nursing world, the race is given to the swift, the strong, and the one who endured until the end. We will all be winners! With patience, dedication, support, and effective time management, the sky is the limit.

Initially, I wanted to become a pediatrician, but being a single young mother of two boys was a conflict in pursuing medical school. However, I chose nursing as my calling because it is much more than general medicine. Nursing is about caring for that individual holistically regardless of their gender, race, or social status. My nursing experience has prepared and shaped my decision in continuing to pursue my dream career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). My career began at Mount Sinai Hospital in a Neuro step-down unit and evolved into different departments and facilities. I currently have 11 years of nursing experience, including critical care, management, and nurse education, and completed my Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing. I completed my DNP at Florida Atlantic University to achieve my CRNA in the future. Achieving my CRNA degree is my ultimate dream goal. It has taken years to decide to apply for CRNA school. CRNA school is a 3-year full-time program with the inability to work. I am a divorced single mother raising two boys since the beginning of my nursing career journey. It took years to save enough money to be able to pay all essential house bills while enrolled in the program. Raising two boys is very difficult, and I have to make arrangements for a babysitter. The program is very difficult and requires time away from family. My balance consists of arranging care between a babysitter, my mother, or my grandmother. Once I arrive home from school or clinical, I balance my study time and family time. It is a constant juggle between checking my homework and their homework. However, I know this sacrifice will be worth it in the end. Everything that I have accomplished has always been for my boys. The exquisiteness of nursing as a whole is its versatility. The role of a nurse anesthetist inquires administering anesthesia via general, local, or regional on patients who are undergoing a special procedure or surgery. However, a CRNA's role does not end there; it continues to incorporate the nursing aspect of caring for a patient as a whole holistically. Knowing the scope of practice and role of a CRNA are vital in forming a proper understanding for prospective students, providers, and the community. Developing myself to further pursue and accomplish the Anesthesiology program will open that pathway to achieving my dream goal. I want to be a better-rounded medical professional and serve my community including the underserved population. The beauty of nursing is that there is versatility and room to grow. I want to have a career with a steady schedule where I can dedicate my time off to my family while being able to provide.