Women in Nursing Scholarship

I was just thirteen when the world seemed to be spinning out of control. No school, no friends - just my family and the constant stream of news. Scenes from New York hospitals, patients on gurneys, and infection rate tickers dominated the screens. My mom kept telling me to "look for the helpers" to calm my nerves and assure me everything would be okay. So I searched, and my eyes opened wide to the heroes risking their lives to help patients in pain - the nurses. Although I already knew I wanted to pursue medicine, these were the helpers I aspired to be. Since then, I've explored various nursing careers. I participated in a medical sciences program at the University of Cincinnati, sought out classes beyond my high school curriculum, including health sciences and emergency medical responder medicine. I also interviewed a nurse practitioner, a nurse anesthetist, and a labor and delivery nurse. With each interview, I'm in awe of the care and comfort they provide patients daily, reaffirming that this is my path. The world nursing shortage, deemed a global health emergency by the International Council of Nurses, fuels my drive to obtain my BSN. I want to be a helper when the world needs nurses most. Shadowing an ER doctor in East Los Angeles, I encountered a spectrum of experiences that piqued my intellectual curiosity about becoming a medical care provider. Observing the intersection of homelessness, gang violence, and the healthcare system revealed a new reality, challenging my prejudices. One eye-opening experience was visiting the jail wing of the hospital, where inmates received medical evaluations. Contrary to my expectations, I witnessed profound compassion and gratitude. The doctor noted that while inmates often displayed hostility towards law enforcement, they transformed into respectful patients when interacting with medical staff. This experience helped me understand the world's complexities and shaped my aspiration to pursue a healthcare career, combining my passion for medical knowledge with my commitment to social justice. Nursing's diverse career paths captivate me. Through four years of foundational learning and immersive clinical experiences, I'll explore various specialties and discover where my passion lies. Ultimately, it's the patient-centered essence of nursing that draws me in. I aspire to be a compassionate helper like those I admired during uncertain times. Reflecting on that 13-year-old seeking hope, I envision inspiring a future generation - perhaps another young girl will look up to me as a beacon of care and kindness, just as I once sought.

As the daughter of a psychiatric nurse, I learned firsthand the profound impact nurses can have on their patients and community. My mother worked in an outpatient treatment program in the medically underserved community of Beloit, WI. Growing up, some of my most significant memories involve visiting her patients. Some of them lived alone and valued socialization. I watched my mother not only supply the necessary medical care but also enrich her patients' lives by teaching them to cook, assisting with errands, taking them for outings, and donating school supplies to children in her patients' lives. She created a genuine connection with her patients that improved their quality of life. Her example cemented a hard work ethic and love for helping others in me. When I became an EMT, I loved providing medical care to my patients, but what fulfilled me the most was comforting patients during an extremely distressing time. I learned that connecting with my patients and remaining confident in my abilities soothed their fears. Over the past decade, I have made significant personal sacrifices putting my career aspirations aside to support my husband’s military career and provide care for my developmentally disabled son. During this time, I developed a lot of resilience and discovered the true value of compassionate medical providers. We met many caring nurse practitioners who advocated for, accommodated, and supported our journey. They continue to help us to this day. It is a great relief knowing that the most important person in your life is in caring hands. This has only added to my passion to further my ambitions in healthcare. A lifetime of interactions in the medical community has led me to the conclusion that nursing is the profession for me. I would love to further myself professionally, lead others, and help patients on their medical journeys. Nurses, especially, spend more time advocating for their patients. Not only do they treat their medical needs, but they also work to meet their patients' emotional and social needs more than any other medical profession. The compassion required of nurses is what I value the most. I am enrolled at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, acquiring my Master's in Nursing degree. My long-term professional goal is to become an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and work in the Baltimore area. Like the mentally ill, geriatrics are often a neglected and underserved community that I have an affinity for. Lastly, my life experience as a mother, EMT, and military spouse has enhanced my compassion, patience, adaptability, and resilience. Despite outside stressors, I can remain calm under pressure and solve problems rationally and effectively. I believe I have what it takes to be a resilient and compassionate nurse, and I am more than excited to pursue this career.

Working in a nursing home as a Certified Nurse Assistant inspired me to pursue a degree in nursing and make a potential impact in caregiving through research. When people ask me what I enjoyed about working as a CNA, I tell them about a memorable resident who was a pilot and a dancer. I tell them that I vividly remember closing the door, turning up the music in his room, and seeing the smile on his face as I walked near him to introduce myself before providing care. He called me the "short one" since "Fatima" was too difficult for him to pronounce. I remember him tapping his feet to the music playing on the TV and closing his eyes. I grabbed his arms and swayed them to the beat. I was also dancing with him; his smile was widening. Connecting personally and creating special memories for the residents beyond the routine tasks assured me of my dream of becoming a nurse. The opportunity to enhance someone's quality of life, to be a companion in their journey, and to bring a smile to their face is a privilege beyond any job description. Becoming a CNA, gaining hands-on experience, and working with my residents further strengthened my desire to pursue nursing wholeheartedly. This reinforced my understanding that everyone deserves compassionate care and companionship, regardless of their condition. I've learned that the honor of being a nurse lies in making a positive difference in the lives of those we care for, turning simple interactions into cherishable memories that last a lifetime. During my time as a CNA, I noticed a lack of emotional support given to residents by the healthcare staff. Determined to make a change, I engaged with the residents, sparking meaningful conversations and implementing new initiatives with the nursing team. My mission is to inspire fellow caregivers to recognize the transformative power of simple acts of kindness and genuine human connection in the lives of those they care for. I talked to the nurses about my observations, and we all agreed to implement change. The nursing staff and I slowly began engaging in meaningful conversations with older adults; we multitasked even throughout the busiest hours. As a future nurse, I emphasize the importance of emotional support in all healthcare settings, recognizing its transformative power. This specific experience made me interested in pursuing research. Dr. Roque, an Assistant Professor at Penn State, is now mentoring me. The research I am trying to study is to evaluate how caregiver burnout affects the emotional support provided to the individual that caregivers are caring for. Through my engagement in this research project, my primary purpose is to contribute to understanding caregiving burnout and identify factors influencing emotional availability and coping behaviors among caregivers. The potential impact of this research is significant, as it could shed light on the challenges caregivers face, ultimately aiming to improve support systems and interventions. As I work toward becoming a nurse, I plan to emphasize the importance of emotional support for older adults and patients in all healthcare settings. When patients or older adults are in fragile conditions, their caregivers or nurses may be their only source of human connection and comfort during their time of need. By advocating for emotional support, I plan to foster healthcare environments where patients feel physically looked after and acknowledged as whole people with distinctive lives and stories. I've learned that the honor of being a nurse lies in making a positive difference in the lives of those we care for, turning simple interactions into cherishable memories that last a lifetime.