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Amanda VanStratum

605

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

Amanda VanStratum is a Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner student at Chamberlain University, dedicated to advancing compassionate, ethical, and patient-centered care. With extensive experience across IMCU, PCU, ICU, ER, OR, and travel nursing, she has seen how clear communication, prevention, and dignity at the end of life profoundly shape patient outcomes. These insights fuel her commitment to becoming an NP who advocates for vulnerable populations, expands access to primary care, and helps families navigate complex health decisions with empathy and respect. Beyond her work in healthcare, Amanda is a multi-passionate learner and creative. She is an experienced painter who enjoys large-scale murals and mixed-media projects, using art as a way to connect with community spaces and promote healing environments. She is also a dedicated practitioner of jiu-jitsu, where she studies discipline, resilience, and strategic problem-solving—qualities she carries into both her clinical work and academic life. Additionally, as a certified yoga teacher (RYT-200), Amanda integrates mindfulness, movement, and mind-body awareness into her personal wellness and the way she approaches patient care. Amanda is a mother, an outdoor enthusiast, and someone who believes deeply in the value of whole-person healing. She hopes to use her FNP degree to serve underserved communities, provide trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care, and continue building a career that blends science, creativity, and service to others.

Education

Chamberlain University

Master's degree program
2023 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Chamberlain University

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Tallahassee Community College

Associate's degree program
2000 - 2004
  • Majors:
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Calvary Christian Academy

High School
1994 - 1998

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Hospital & Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      Jessica Dahl Nurses with Chutzpah Scholarship
      Winner
      I was originally drawn to the field of nursing by the phrase, “Don’t waste your life.” I wanted to devote my time and abilities to something meaningful, something that honored the belief that every human being is created in the image of the Name. Because of that, I see inherent dignity in all people, regardless of their condition or their desire to be well. I believe we are called to be light in the world, and that much of the moral good found in Western culture exists because our people have safeguarded and transmitted the traditions of the Name across generations. Our contributions are well documented: Jews make up only a tiny fraction of the world’s population, but individuals of Jewish descent have received an overwhelming share of scientific recognitions. Roughly one-fifth of all Nobel Prizes, and over one-quarter of all Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, have been awarded to Jewish scientists. In the United States, a community representing only about 2% of the population accounts for roughly 40% of American Nobel laureates in science and health. These numbers reflect a longstanding cultural emphasis on scholarship, healing, ethics, and the sanctity of life. We do not seek recognition, yet our contributions are overwhelming and undeniable. The Name is with us. And since much has been given to us, much is required of us in return. I chose to pursue a career in nursing because caring for others has always felt like a sacred responsibility. Throughout my nursing journey, I have witnessed how meaningful it is to support people in their most vulnerable moments. Nursing allows me to combine science, compassion, problem-solving, and human connection in a way that aligns deeply with my purpose. As I work toward becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, I am driven by the belief that every patient deserves dignity, advocacy, and a clinician who truly listens. My faith has been an anchor throughout this calling. The values I was raised with, tikkun olam (repairing the world), chesed (loving-kindness), and honoring the divine spark in every person, shape the way I approach patient care. Healing is not merely a profession; it is a mitzvah, an act of sacred service. When I sit with a frightened patient, hold someone’s hand in the ER, or help a family navigate a difficult decision, I feel connected to generations who taught that our purpose is to bring light to one another with courage and compassion. My faith also guides me through the emotional weight of healthcare. Caring for the sick is holy work, and even small acts of kindness can ripple outward in ways we may never fully see. These values help me remain grounded, patient, and humble, especially in moments of grief, uncertainty, and moral complexity. Pursuing nursing, and now my FNP, is the fulfillment of both a professional calling and a spiritual path. It allows me to live out my values each day: to ease suffering, to act with justice and empathy, and to join with other Jewish people to be a light to the world.
      Amanda VanStratum Student Profile | Bold.org