Nursing is a job. This is what we are programmed to believe. However, for myself, it is a calling. When I was 18 years old in 2013, I was a new mom and needed an overnight job which led me to apply for a sitter position with elderly, fall risk, and psychosis patients. I had no idea that this would ignite my career 11 years later. The passion of nursing came from being apart of a team that was able to see how patients were positively affected through actions, words, a holistic environment. Being in the entry level position, I felt like a difference was being made yet seeing the nurses being able to do more made me to want more. I continued my education and received my nursing assistant certification, went on to become a RN, and now in the nurse practitioner program. Pursuing nursing means that I can combine my interest in science and medicine with helping people along the way. It means that I get to meet patients and their families in a way that would not have happened organically outside the hospital. Fostering those relationships into a trusting bond allows one to be compliant and feel relaxed even in their worst moments. Nursing allows me to be on the forefront of the change I hope to see in the underserved communities in Chicago. Furthermore, nursing put me in a position where my children can understand what I do at work and motivates them to be impactful in similar ways. Ultimately, when I graduate with my nurse practitioner degree, I plan on gaining experience as an advanced practice nurse and open a mobile clinic. Chicago's 900,000 South Side residents have experienced staggering health disparities for decades compared with North Siders, with a 10 times higher risk of infant mortality and four times the rate of death from diabetes. Systemic barriers allows that gap to form such a socioeconomic, cultural dynamics, transportation, education, and accessibility. In order to close the gap, we must be active in the community by meeting the people where they are at. Partnerships with churches, school, and other community events allows us to strategically tackle those specific challenges. The mobile clinic will focus on preventive screenings such as glucose, blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, and physicals to promote wellness directly in the communities. Nursing allows me to grow professionally and personally. I am in the right space and looking forward to doing more.

Nursing is a job. This is what we are programmed to believe. However, for myself, it is a calling. When I was 18 years old in 2013, I was a new mom and needed an overnight job which led me to apply for a sitter position with elderly, fall risk, and psychosis patients. I had no idea that this would ignite my career 11 years later. The passion of nursing came from being apart of a team that was able to see how patients were positively affected through actions, words, a holistic environment. Being in the entry level position, I felt like a difference was being made yet seeing the nurses being able to do more made me to want more. I continued my education and received my nursing assistant certification, went on to become a RN, and now in the nurse practitioner program. Pursuing nursing means that I can combine my interest in science and medicine with helping people along the way. It means that I get to meet patients and their families in a way that would not have happened organically outside the hospital. Fostering those relationships into a trusting bond allows one to be compliant and feel relaxed even in their worst moments. Nursing allows me to be on the forefront of the change I hope to see in the underserved communities in Chicago. Furthermore, nursing put me in a position where my children can understand what I do at work and motivates them to be impactful in similar ways. Ultimately, when I graduate with my nurse practitioner degree, I plan on gaining experience as an advanced practice nurse and open a mobile clinic. Chicago's 900,000 South Side residents have experienced staggering health disparities for decades compared with North Siders, with a 10 times higher risk of infant mortality and four times the rate of death from diabetes. Systemic barriers allows that gap to form such a socioeconomic, cultural dynamics, transportation, education, and accessibility. In order to close the gap, we must be active in the community by meeting the people where they are at. Partnerships with churches, school, and other community events allows us to strategically tackle those specific challenges. The mobile clinic will focus on preventive screenings such as glucose, blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, and physicals to promote wellness directly in the communities. Nursing allows me to grow professionally and personally. I am in the right space and looking forward to doing more.

Nursing is a job. This is what we are programmed to believe. However, for myself, it is a calling. When I was 18 years old in 2013, I was a new mom and needed an overnight job which led me to apply for a sitter position with elderly, fall risk, and psychosis patients. I had no idea that this would ignite my career 11 years later. The passion of nursing came from being apart of a team that was able to see how patients were positively affected through actions, words, a holistic environment. Being in the entry level position, I felt like a difference was being made yet seeing the nurses being able to do more made me to want more. I continued my education and received my nursing assistant certification, went on to become a RN, and now in the nurse practitioner program. Pursuing nursing means that I can combine my interest in science and medicine with helping people along the way. It means that I get to meet patients and their families in a way that would not have happened organically outside the hospital. Fostering those relationships into a trusting bond allows one to be compliant and feel relaxed even in their worst moments. Nursing allows me to be on the forefront of the change I hope to see in the underserved communities in Chicago. Furthermore, nursing put me in a position where my children can understand what I do at work and motivates them to be impactful in similar ways. Ultimately, when I graduate with my nurse practitioner degree, I plan on gaining experience as an advanced practice nurse and open a mobile clinic. Chicago's 900,000 South Side residents have experienced staggering health disparities for decades compared with North Siders, with a 10 times higher risk of infant mortality and four times the rate of death from diabetes. Systemic barriers allows that gap to form such a socioeconomic, cultural dynamics, transportation, education, and accessibility. In order to close the gap, we must be active in the community by meeting the people where they are at. Partnerships with churches, school, and other community events allows us to strategically tackle those specific challenges. The mobile clinic will focus on preventive screenings such as glucose, blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, and physicals to promote wellness directly in the communities. Nursing allows me to grow professionally and personally. I am in the right space and looking forward to doing more.

Nursing is a job. This is what we are programmed to believe. However, for myself, it is a calling. When I was 18 years old in 2013, I was a new mom and needed an overnight job which led me to apply for a sitter position with elderly, fall risk, and psychosis patients. I had no idea that this would ignite my career 11 years later. The passion of nursing came from being apart of a team that was able to see how patients were positively affected through actions, words, a holistic environment. Being in the entry level position, I felt like a difference was being made yet seeing the nurses being able to do more made me to want more. I continued my education and received my nursing assistant certification, went on to become a RN, and now in the nurse practitioner program. Pursuing nursing means that I can combine my interest in science and medicine with helping people along the way. It means that I get to meet patients and their families in a way that would not have happened organically outside the hospital. Fostering those relationships into a trusting bond allows one to be compliant and feel relaxed even in their worst moments. Nursing allows me to be on the forefront of the change I hope to see in the underserved communities in Chicago. Furthermore, nursing put me in a position where my children can understand what I do at work and motivates them to be impactful in similar ways. Nursing is not a personal choice, it's a selfless one. While I became interested in nursing to make a difference medically and mentally for a patient. I didn't understand how my small role is apart of a larger scale issue. Healthy People 2023 highlights the determinants of health that impacts the disparities and mortality outcomes. This includes economics, healthcare access, education, neighborhood, and social context. Because patients come from different background, each patient is individualized in their care plans which can take more work than what meets to eye. It involves a multidisciplinary team to see true success. At times, despite the efforts, we still may be unsuccessful in healing a patient. Ultimately, when I graduate with my nurse practitioner degree, I plan on gaining experience as an advanced practice nurse and open a mobile clinic. The mobile clinic will focus on preventive screenings such as glucose, blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, and physicals to promote wellness directly in the communities. Nursing allows me to grow professionally and personally. I am in the right space and looking forward to doing more.

Nursing is a job. This is what we are programmed to believe. However, for myself, it is a calling. When I was 18 years old in 2013, I was a new mom and needed an overnight job which led me to apply for a sitter position with elderly, fall risk, and psychosis patients. I had no idea that this would ignite my career 11 years later. The passion of nursing came from being apart of a team that was able to see how patients were positively affected through actions, words, a holistic environment. Being in the entry level position, I felt like a difference was being made yet seeing the nurses being able to do more made me to want more. I continued my education and received my nursing assistant certification, went on to become a RN, and now in the nurse practitioner program. Pursuing nursing means that I can combine my interest in science and medicine with helping people along the way. It means that I get to meet patients and their families in a way that would not have happened organically outside the hospital. Fostering those relationships into a trusting bond allows one to be compliant and feel relaxed even in their worst moments. Nursing allows me to be on the forefront of the change I hope to see in the underserved communities in Chicago. Furthermore, nursing put me in a position where my children can understand what I do at work and motivates them to be impactful in similar ways. Nursing is not a personal choice, it's a selfless one. While I became interested in nursing to make a difference medically and mentally for a patient. I didn't understand how my small role is apart of a larger scale issue. Healthy People 2023 highlights the determinants of health that impacts the disparities and mortality outcomes. This includes economics, healthcare access, education, neighborhood, and social context. Because patients come from different background, each patient is individualized in their care plans which can take more work than what meets to eye. It involves a multidisciplinary team to see true success. At times, despite the efforts, we still may be unsuccessful in healing a patient. Even through the stress, I enjoy learning about my patients so that I can help them best despite the outcome because I know somewhere down the line a difference is being made. Ultimately, when I graduate with my nurse practitioner degree, I plan on gaining experience as an advanced practice nurse and open a mobile clinic. The mobile clinic will focus on preventive screenings such as glucose, blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, and physicals to promote wellness directly in the communities. Nursing allows me to grow professionally and personally. I am in the right space and looking forward to doing more.

Nursing is a job. This is what we are programmed to believe. However, for myself, it is a calling. When I was 18 years old in 2013, I was a new mom and needed an overnight job which led me to apply for a sitter position with elderly, fall risk, and psychosis patients. I had no idea that this would ignite my career 11 years later. The passion of nursing came from being apart of a team that was able to see how patients were positively affected through actions, words, a holistic environment. Being in the entry level position, I felt like a difference was being made yet seeing the nurses being able to do more made me to want more. I continued my education and received my nursing assistant certification, went on to become a RN, and now in the nurse practitioner program. Pursuing nursing means that I can combine my interest in science and medicine with helping people along the way. It means that I get to meet patients and their families in a way that would not have happened organically outside the hospital. Fostering those relationships into a trusting bond allows one to be compliant and feel relaxed even in their worst moments. Nursing allows me to be on the forefront of the change I hope to see in the underserved communities in Chicago. Furthermore, nursing put me in a position where my children can understand what I do at work and motivates them to be impactful in similar ways. Nursing is not a personal choice, it's a selfless one. While I became interested in nursing to make a difference medically and mentally for a patient. I didn't understand how my small role is apart of a larger scale issue. Healthy People 2023 highlights the determinants of health that impacts the disparities and mortality outcomes. This includes economics, healthcare access, education, neighborhood, and social context. Because patients come from different background, each patient is individualized in their care plans which can take more work than what meets to eye. It involves a multidisciplinary team to see true success. At times, despite the efforts, we still may be unsuccessful in healing a patient. Even through the stress, I enjoy learning about my patients so that I can help them best despite the outcome because I know somewhere down the line a difference is being made. Ultimately, when I graduate with my nurse practitioner degree, I plan on gaining experience as an advanced practice nurse and open a mobile clinic. The mobile clinic will focus on preventive screenings such as glucose, blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, and physicals to promote wellness directly in the communities. Nursing allows me to grow professionally and personally. I am in the right space and looking forward to doing more.