I plan to positively impact the world by helping bring strong new nurses into the field. While obtaining my PhD in Nursing, I continue to work as an adjunct faculty member at a local community college. Building strong nursing foundations, principles, and holistic compassionate care in the new nursing workforce is one of my goals. There are approximately two years left in my PhD in nursing program at Loyola University Chicago, where I will start my program of research and write my dissertation. In the past I had the pleasure of giving back when I went on mission trips with my UCC church. We worked in Joplin MO after a devastating tornado, with the Back Bay Mission in Louisiana after hurricane Katrina, with the Oglala Lakota Native Americans in South Dakota, and in the Application mountains in Tennessee. Each one of these missions helped shape my cultural competence and acceptance of the world. I truly believe a cultural experience like these mission trips can really widen the view of the incoming nurse to the economic diversity all around us. As a current and future PhD prepared nurse educator, I hope to continue to work with mission groups and potentially bring my nursing students along. When my children are older, I hope to experience this kind of giving back with them as well. I took some of these trips with my parents, and some were without. Each time it was extremely rewarding to take the time to get to know the people, the struggles, the culture, and the barriers in each location. Even these small moments in time can make lasting impact on the people in these locations. Not everyone has the chance, the time, the means, or the will to work on mission trips, or to teach for that matter. With my terminal degree I hope to continue both of these passions, education and service in the incoming nurse workforce. Some people go their whole lives living in one area, never adventuring out. The least I can do with my students is bring the cultural diversity to them with my experiences. Even if my students do not get the chance to do any mission work or see any cultures, I can broaden their horizons and attempt to help them with cultural competence and acceptance, which is extremely important in the world today. Any financial assistance I can obtain while pursuing my degree will be very helpful. Thank you for your consideration.

I have always known I wanted to be in health care. Some of my early memories of my mother picking me up from after school activities dressed in scrubs and smelling like cleaning solution. Later I realized this smell was the cleaning products she used for the dialysis machines she worked with. She worked as a phlebotomist, dialysis tech, life insurance screener, an office manager, all with a background of a medical assistant. She loves patient care and what she does in all of these roles she has fulfilled. I knew I wanted to do something to help people too, and nursing seemed like a natural path for me. I completed the health occupations courses in high school and in the summer of my junior year completed the CNA course at my local community college. I started working at the one nursing home in my town as a dietary aide, and once my CNA course was complete I started as a CNA there. I enjoyed working with the elderly population, being part of their lives was so important to them and their families to keep them safe, clean, and healthy. Once in college (NIU) the nursing program was competitive, so I pursued a degree in public health. This public health degree enhanced my knowledge of the need for nursing in the field. When I was admitted to the nursing program I continued this degree and completed 2 baccalaureate degrees in 5 years. I continued working in the nursing home while in college, but also started working as a CNA at the hospital closest to my college. The medical-surgical floor is where I was meant to be at the time. I made alot of good friends, and saw alot of patients in various states of health. I eventually had to resign the nursing home CNA job and started working on a psychiatric unit in my last semester of nursing school. As I completed my initial education, I was hired in my first nursing job on a Geriatric-Psychiatric inpatient unit. As a nurse a psychiatric background at any point in your career really builds your based for the needs of the community. No matter where you go, mental health is an issue. I still to this day take the patient with the psychiatric issues because I can empathize with them. Those struggling with mental illness, including anxiety and depression, need a compassionate nurse to help them through their times of need. People who are ill are vulnerable, people who are struggling with mental illness are even more so. I plan to continue to make a positive impact on my patients experience in the hospital, by providing them with a compassionate nurse who can hold their hand in the tough times. Even though now I work in a Labor and Delivery Unit, this is still a unit of big change. Family dynamics, opinions, knowledge deficit, anxiety, depression, fear, all still occur on this type of unit. By enhancing my own education with a PhD in Nursing, I have a greater ability to help contribute to the knowledge that is known and bring my compassion into that knowledge base to help future nurses understand their patients better.

Stanley, Comes to work does his job consistently for years. When he is upset he will let you know you've crossed the line with him. His one-liners and his quiet observations are key to the inter-office relationships. Dont mess with Stanley. Do not ask him to stay late, work extra, or pitch in for any office get togethers or presents. He is here to work, nap, and pick up his paycheck. If you want t challenge him, be ready to back off when he escalates. However, if you can get Stanley to crack a smile or even laugh, you will be on his good side for life. Please do not hit on his daughter or make any wife or mother jokes with him, this does not stand. Stanley is the type of person that you need to warm up to, but once you do they will have your back no matter what. He is reserved when he needs to be, loud when he needs to be, but is overall a consistent employee and has his regular clients, who you also should not mess with. There is a Stanley in every workplace, some have softer shells and some harder, but once you break past it, you have a good buddy on you hand!

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 5, and 2. at the time of this application. My husband recently went back to work full time after opening up about his gambling addiction, for which we are seeking marriage counseling for. Although I am not a single mother, I feel the financial burden of family life is only carried by myself, and pursuing my PhD will only add to the stress. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time. I hope to bring a positive impact into the world of nursing education just as I have in all other areas of nursing I have been a part of.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 5, and 2. at the time of this application. My husband recently went back to work full time after opening up about his gambling addiction, for which we are seeking marriage counseling for. Although I am not a single mother, I feel the financial burden of family life is only carried by myself, and pursuing my PhD will only add to the stress. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time. It has been difficult to segment my time between raising my children, job responsibilities, and school work. I miss them so much when I am studying! But I savor the time in-between classes to do lots of fun activities with them. It is definitely a balancing act.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 5, and 2. at the time of this application. My husband recently went back to work full time after opening up about his gambling addiction, for which we are seeking marriage counseling for. Although I am not a single mother, I feel the financial burden of family life is only carried by myself, and pursuing my PhD will only add to the stress. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area. As an PhD prepared educator for the next generation of nurses, the community will receive strong nurses to push healthy communities to be their best.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My masters is in Nursing Administration, but I prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 5, and 2. at the time of this application. My husband recently went back to work full time, and we are struggling with childcare options, school for me, and home life. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Nobody was a bigger fan of me becoming a nurse than my father. The only one who attended my graduation was by boyfriend at the time, since my mother and two brothers were home with my father who was on Hospice care since Thanksgiving with terminal Osteocarcoma of the brain. As I sat in the crowd, no family present, my friends didn't even know my father was on Hospice, I felt something was wrong. After the ceremony, while meeting up with my boyfriend, he had this look of shock on his face, and he couldn't even say the words, so he showed me a text from my mother. It said, "Don't tell Ashley yet, but her father just passed away". I was in shock. As I walked across the stage, my father took his last breaths, and I wasn't there. Even now all these years later I cry as I write this. I know as I pursue my PhD in Nursing my father is beaming with how proud he is of me. His loss has continued to give me focus on what I want with my career and family balance. I will continue to fight to the end to achieve my goals with him pushing me every day. Even though my graduation day will forever be connected with the day of my fathers passing, I look forward to my future graduations of my own children as well.

Recently I visited a newly built Starbucks in my home town on the way to work one morning, and ordered an Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, but I ordered it to be hot. At first the order feedback screen showed some strange addons +flavor shot +foam + espresso shot. I said, "wait a minute, I dont need all that extra stuff". The nice lady on the intercom responded, I'll just charge you for the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, but make it hot. I replied with "yes, thats what I want, thank you". It was a bit foggy out that morning, cold dew on the cars and grass, and I was still waiting for the defrost button to kick in on my windshield so I could see clearly. I wanted a hot beverage for my way to work at 6am. I have never been a big fan of the pumpkin flavors of fall from any place. But the apple, cinnamon, coffee, caramel flavors are my favorite. I took a sip, and I knew I made the right choice, and I am so glad fall flavors are back. It reminds me of when I was in college, studying nursing at NIU. The cozy fall weather, and warm coffee to break into the day just gives a nice feeling of being home, safe, and comforted. Its is interesting how a cup of coffee crafted by a smiling Starbucks employee can make your morning, and therefore your day that much brighter. Fall has always been a busy time, this fall in particular, my first daughter, who is 6 is going to first grade, my middle child, 4 1/2 is going to afternoon preschool, and my snuggly baby boy, almost 2, is living the life as the last baby in our family. I cant wait for pumpkin picking this year, trick or treating on Halloween, apple picking, bon fires, and making family memories. I also have a busy fall, working at least 36 hours a week as a labor and delivery nurse, working 5-10 hours a week teaching nursing students fundamental skills in clinical, and also studying for my PhD in nursing at Loyola University. With my busy life it is so nice to have a moment each day to treat myself to something special, and that is something I can look forward to now that there is a Starbucks just around the corner from my house!

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 4, and 22 months at the time of this application. My husband recently went back to work full time after opening up about his gambling addiction, for which we are seeking marriage counseling for. Although I am not a single mother, I feel the financial burden of family life is only carried by myself, and pursuing my PhD will only add to the stress. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. I have completed the first full year of my PhD program and starting my second year. I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 4, and 22 months at the time of this application. My husband recently started a new job after opening up about his gambling addiction, which we are both working with a marriage counselor to get through. Although I am not a single mother, I feel I have been single parenting and supporting my family from the start. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know towards higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time. I also plan to give back and educate future nurses with my well-rounded background supporting me.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 6, 4.5 and 20 months. My husband works 3-11pm shift at a machine shop full time. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

Personal Story December 12, 2010, was my graduation day from nursing school. Nobody was a bigger fan of me becoming a nurse than my father. The only one who attended my graduation was by boyfriend at the time, since my mother and two brothers were home with my father who was on Hospice care since Thanksgiving with terminal Osteocarcoma of the brain. As I sat in the crowd, no family present, my friends didn't even know my father was on Hospice, I felt something was wrong. After the ceremony, while meeting up with my boyfriend, he had this look of shock on his face, and he couldn't even say the words, so he showed me a text from my mother. It said, "Don't tell Ashley yet, but her father just passed away". I was in shock. As I walked across the stage, my father took his last breaths, and I wasn't there. Even now all these years later I cry as I write this. I know as I pursue my PhD in Nursing my father is beaming with how proud he is of me. His loss has continued to give me focus on what I want with my career and family balance. I will continue to fight to the end to achieve my goals with him pushing me every day. Even though my graduation day will forever be connected with the day of my fathers passing, I look forward to my future graduations of my own children as well. I want to fight for my children to achieve their dreams as well, whatever those may be. Mental Health Providing realistic and local resources is key to someone who is struggling with mental health. I currently work in Labor and Delivery and we complete Post-Natal Depression Screens on all our patients prior to discharge. The PDS is key to help get initial resources to my patient population to help with any post-partum depression and anxiety. Connections with social workers in our health system and subsequently giving resources to patients about counseling services, psychiatrists in the area and support groups that are local and reachable are very important. If a service is not actually available or the patient is unaware there are support services out there, they may continue to suffer, which is a safety issue. Post-partum mothers area also screened at their follow up OB visits once or twice and at pediatric visits with their babies. Just having a screening with no follow up is not always going to get someone to seek help. Giving a list of free or low-cost services along with the screening may offer more opportunity for the person seeking help to actually follow through. It seems every week there is a crazy news story about a mother harming or killing her children and how no one knew the person was struggling. This is very hard to understand for some people, but true post-partum psychosis is a real thing and I have seen it in the past with patients who were admitted to the hospital on an inpatient psychiatric unit. More free services and information about local services should be readily available to anyone who wishes to seek help. Pediatric medicine, specifically the care of the newborn and the birthing parent is the career I am currently pursuing. As a nurse being educated at the highest level, I have the opportunity to make a great impact on how that infant is cared for when they go home. This can be accomplished by providing the mother with as much education and resources needed to create a healthy environment.

Personal Story December 12, 2010, was my graduation day from nursing school. This should have been a day of celebration, remembrance and hopefulness towards my future as a nurse. Nobody was a bigger fan of me becoming a nurse than my father. Instead of my parents in the audience, the only one who attended my graduation was by boyfriend at the time, since my mother and two brothers were home with my father who was on Hospice care since Thanksgiving with terminal Osteosarcarcoma of the brain. As I sat in the crowd, alongside my classmates, my friends didn't even know my father was on Hospice, I felt something was wrong, that this was not right. After the ceremony, while meeting up with my boyfriend, he had this look of shock on his face, and he couldn't even say the words, so he showed me a text from my mother. It said, "Don't tell Ashley yet, but her father just passed away". I was in shock, but again I had a feeling something was happening as I sat among the other graduates. As I walked across the stage, my father took his last breaths, and I wasn't there. Even now all these years later I cry as I write this. I know as I pursue my PhD in Nursing my father is beaming with how proud he is of me. His loss has continued to give me focus on what I want with my career and family balance. I will continue to fight to the end to achieve my goals with him pushing me every day. Even though my graduation day will forever be connected with the day of my fathers passing, I look forward to my future graduations of my own children as well. I want to fight for my children to achieve their dreams as well, whatever those may be. As I reflect on this story, I look at all the blessings life has given me. Three beautiful healthy children, a caring hardworking husband, a warm home, as well as safety and security. I think also about all the things my father has missed, and I wonder how he would be as a grandfather. I know he would have been the best, teaching my kids to fish, play basketball, camping, family trips, and more. But most of all he would be my biggest cheerleader for my future degree and support me in anyway he could. What I have learned throughout the years as I reflect on this experience in my life is to never take anything for granted, because your biggest triumph is yet to come, and life does move on.

I have had the opportunity to participate in several different mission trips through my church organization, St. John's United Church of Christ in Union Illinois. My very first mission was in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky where a mission crew including myself, had the privilege of helping rebuild a room and place a new roof on a home. The home in question had the mountain collapse on the house and this was the fourth trip the mission group took to help the family dig out the mountain from surrounding their house, build a retaining wall, hall away debris, and my crew who helped rebuild the family room and place a new roof. The act of just building with your hands and helping a poor young family in this area is so very rewarding. In another instance I was able to help families in need two years after Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi Mississippi. The homes in Biloxi, still are in need today, but when I was there we helped with clean up in a home damaged by flood waters, repainted, cleaned and helped bring supplies into a home that is for the homeless population attempting to find work and establish living arrangements again. Also in Biloxi we helped staff a showering and laundry facility for the homeless population. The participants were able to have a clean, warm, safe place to shower and launder their items which was open nearly every day of the week. This essential service really helped the homeless or de-homed residents of Biloxi feel welcomed, and human again with even hair cutting services as part of the package once a week. One of the most interesting mission trips I attended was to the South Dakota Oglala Lakota Indian reservation. Here we assisted in building bunkbeds for the Lakota people one day, another we helped paint an old house and build front steps. We were able to be immersed in the culture along the way with a group called Re-Member who organized the whole week. It was amazing to see all the different cultures that my mission work has allowed me to participate in. In the future I hope to share my drive for mission work with my children and take them on trips through our church or other nation-wide organizations. Being exposed to different cultures and seeing people in need receive services from volunteer organizations was a key drive for me going through my undergraduate education. I wish to bring to my future students the eye-opening experiences that I have had to broaden their horizons as well.

Leadership is different for everyone, but for me it seems to come rather naturally in that every nursing position I have ever had I was pushed into leadership in someway. I have demonstrated leadership in each of my nursing roles starting back in 2012 when I was leading an employee community health group as a representative from the geriatric inpatient psychiatric unit. After this experience, I started working on a medical-surgical unit and stepped into an interim charge nurse and back up charge nurse role, as well as really enjoyed being a preceptor on the unit. I then took a position on a hip and knee replacement unit which was joined with a rehabilitation unit as a registry RN, but then took the charge nurse role on night shift. I enjoyed helping with admissions, and participating in the unit based council for reporting out data from our unit to the hospital organization. My most recent move was in 2017 after the birth of my first child, I started working on a Labor and Delivery unit, and after about 1 year worked as charge RN there, and participated in a patient outcomes council. When I finished my Masters in Nursing degree, I started working as a clinical instructor for College of Lake County while maintaining my full time job at the hospital. I enjoy teaching and helping new grads learn new things, organize their care and improve their skills. I routinely work as the lead nurse on postpartum, maintaining patient flow, helping my co-workers, and working with nursing students both in my clinicals I teach, and on the unit when they shadow me. As an experienced nurse an one of the few on my unit that hold a Masters Degree in Nursing, I am looked to as a leader, I am expected to perform above and beyond, and I speak up for issues on the unit and for patients. In the future with my PhD in Nursing, which I am currently working on, I hope to continue to be a leader among nurses. I want to help shape the next generation of nurses and build a great nursing program either at an ADN program or aBSN program. Eventually even becoming Dean of a community based nursing school. Having scholarships to help the financial burden of this advanced degree is essential to reduce stress on me since I am the breadwinner for my growing family. My husband and I have three small children, ages 6, 4.5, and 19 months at the time of this application.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 5, 4, and 18 months at the time of this application. My husband works as a machinist full time. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 5, 4, and 18 months at the time of this application. My husband currently works as a machinist full time. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however, I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 5, 4, and 18 months at the time of this application. My husband currently works as a machinist full time. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 5, 4, and 16 months at the time of this application. My husband currently works part-time the opposite days as me for childcare coverage. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 5, 4, and 15 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

December 12, 2010, was my graduation day from nursing school, it was also they day my father passed away. Nobody was a bigger fan of me becoming a nurse than my father. Since my mother and two brothers were home with my father who was on Hospice care since Thanksgiving with terminal Osteocarcoma of the brain, I attended my . As I sat in the crowd, no family present, my friends didn't even know my father was on Hospice, I felt something was wrong. After the ceremony, while meeting up with my boyfriend, he had this look of shock on his face, and he couldn't even say the words, so he showed me a text from my mother. It said, "Don't tell Ashley yet, but her father just passed away". I was in shock. As I walked across the stage, my father took his last breaths, and I wasn't there. I know as I pursue my PhD in Nursing my father is beaming with how proud he is of me. His loss has continued to give me focus on what I want with my career and family balance. I will continue to fight to the end to achieve my goals with him pushing me every day. Even though my graduation day will forever be connected with the day of my fathers passing, I look forward to my future graduations of my own children as well. I want to fight for my children to achieve their dreams as well, whatever those may be. I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I have currently 3 small children, ages 5, 4, and 15 months at the time of this application. My husband works opposite days as I do to facilitate home childcare and family balance. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

My first time taking Anatomy and Physiology in college I could only obtain a D, which was not acceptable to enter the nursing program at my undergraduate school, Northern Illinois University. I retook this five credit hour class during the summer and completely changed my study habits. I bought several spiral bound lined index cards and re-wrote every powerpoint, and wrote acronyms to remember the content. Anatomy and Physiology was such a jam-packed class that the content was overwhelming the first time around for me and I also had too many classes during the semester. I would use these index cards with highlighted areas and hand-drawn pictures to repeat the information as much as possible to be able to pass the class. This was mainly for the lab or anatomy portion of the class. Who knew there were so many body parts and bones to name? I have used other detailed notes like this in other classes to help with content as well. This strategy worked well, in that I passed the class for a second time with an A, the next semester is when I started nursing school.

Providing realistic and local resources is key to someone who is struggling with mental health. I currently work in Labor and Delivery and we complete Post-Natal Depression Screens on all our patients prior to discharge. The PDS is key to help get initial resources to my patient population to help with any post-partum depression and anxiety. Connections with social workers in our health system and subsequently giving resources to patients about counseling services, psychiatrists in the area and support groups that are local and reachable are very important. If a service is not actually available or the patient is unaware there are support services out there, they may continue to suffer, which is a safety issue. Post-partum mothers area also screened at their follow up OB visits once or twice and at pediatric visits with their babies. Just having a screening with no follow up is not always going to get someone to seek help. Giving a list of free or low-cost services along with the screening may offer more opportunity for the person seeking help to actually follow through. It seems every week there is a crazy news story about a mother harming or killing her children and how no one knew the person was struggling. This is very hard to understand for some people, but true post-partum psychosis is a real thing and I have seen it in the past with patients who were admitted to the hospital on an inpatient psychiatric unit. More free services and information about local services should be readily available to anyone who wishes to seek help.

Providing realistic and local resources is key to someone who is struggling with mental health. I currently work in Labor and Delivery and we complete Post-Natal Depression Screens on all our patients prior to discharge. The PDS is key to help get initial resources to my patient population to help with any post-partum depression and anxiety. Connections with social workers in our health system and subsequently giving resources to patients about counseling services, psychiatrists in the area and support groups that are local and reachable are very important. If a service is not actually available or the patient is unaware there are support services out there, they may continue to suffer, which is a safety issue. Post-partum mothers area also screened at their follow up OB visits once or twice and at pediatric visits with their babies. Just having a screening with no follow up is not always going to get someone to seek help. Giving a list of free or low-cost services along with the screening may offer more opportunity for the person seeking help to actually follow through. It seems every week there is a crazy news story about a mother harming or killing her children and how no one knew the person was struggling. This is very hard to understand for some people, but true post-partum psychosis is a real thing and I have seen it in the past with patients who were admitted to the hospital on an inpatient psychiatric unit. More free services and information about local services should be readily available to anyone who wishes to seek help.

December 12, 2010, was my graduation day from nursing school. Nobody was a bigger fan of me becoming a nurse than my father. The only one who attended my graduation was by boyfriend at the time, since my mother and two brothers were home with my father who was on Hospice care since Thanksgiving with terminal Osteocarcoma of the brain. As I sat in the crowd, no family present, my friends didn't even know my father was on Hospice, I felt something was wrong. After the ceremony, while meeting up with my boyfriend, he had this look of shock on his face, and he couldn't even say the words, so he showed me a text from my mother. It said, "Don't tell Ashley yet, but her father just passed away". I was in shock. As I walked across the stage, my father took his last breaths, and I wasn't there. Even now all these years later I cry as I write this. I know as I pursue my PhD in Nursing my father is beaming with how proud he is of me. His loss has continued to give me focus on what I want with my career and family balance. I will continue to fight to the end to achieve my goals with him pushing me every day. Even though my graduation day will forever be connected with the day of my fathers passing, I look forward to my future graduations of my own children as well. I want to fight for my children to achieve their dreams as well, whatever those may be.

Providing realistic and local resources is key to someone who is struggling with mental health. I currently work in Labor and Delivery and we complete Post-Natal Depression Screens on all our patients prior to discharge. The PDS is key to help get initial resources to my patient population to help with any post-partum depression and anxiety. Connections with social workers in our health system and subsequently giving resources to patients about counseling services, psychiatrists in the area and support groups that are local and reachable are very important. If a service is not actually available or the patient is unaware there are support services out there, they may continue to suffer, which is a safety issue. Post-partum mothers area also screened at their follow up OB visits once or twice and at pediatric visits with their babies. Just having a screening with no follow up is not always going to get someone to seek help. Giving a list of free or low-cost services along with the screening may offer more opportunity for the person seeking help to actually follow through. It seems every week there is a crazy news story about a mother harming or killing her children and how no one knew the person was struggling. This is very hard to understand for some people, but true post-partum psychosis is a real thing and I have seen it in the past with patients who were admitted to the hospital on an inpatient psychiatric unit. More free services and information about local services should be readily available to anyone who wishes to seek help.

I have had the opportunity to participate in several different mission trips through my church organization, St. John's United Church of Christ in Union Illinois. My very first mission was in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky where a mission crew including myself, had the privilege of helping rebuild a room and place a new roof on a home. The home in question had the mountain collapse on the house and this was the fourth trip the mission group took to help the family dig out the mountain from surrounding their house, build a retaining wall, hall away debris, and my crew who helped rebuild the family room and place a new roof. The act of just building with your hands and helping a poor young family in this area is so very rewarding. In another instance I was able to help families in need two years after Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi Mississippi. The homes in Biloxi, still are in need today, but when I was there we helped with clean up in a home damaged by flood waters, repainted, cleaned and helped bring supplies into a home that is for the homeless population attempting to find work and establish living arrangements again. Also in Biloxi we helped staff a showering and laundry facility for the homeless population. The participants were able to have a clean, warm, safe place to shower and launder their items which was open nearly every day of the week. This essential service really helped the homeless or de-homed residents of Biloxi feel welcomed, and human again with even hair cutting services as part of the package once a week. One of the most interesting mission trips I attended was to the South Dakota Oglala Lakota Indian reservation. Here we assisted in building bunkbeds for the Lakota people one day, another we helped paint an old house and build front steps. We were able to be immersed in the culture along the way with a group called Re-Member who organized the whole week. It was amazing to see all the different cultures that my mission work has allowed me to participate in. In the future I hope to share my drive for mission work with my children and take them on trips through our church or other nation-wide organizations. Being exposed to different cultures and seeing people in need receive services from volunteer organizations was a key drive for me going through my undergraduate education. I wish to bring to my future students the eye-opening experiences that I have had to broaden their horizons as well.

Condensing of healthcare information for the individual across health systems is essential for best care practices. The EPIC Electronic Medical Record does just that. It can reach across health systems, clinics, offices, pharmacies and combine information for a patient to give the most up to date care possible. Currently I work at a Labor and Delivery unit and we may see patients from all over the country at times. The ability to pull information from an EPIC chart in another state or another county is essential to providing safe care for my patient population and for their coming baby. The technology that is in play to connect all these different locations is truly amazing. When a patient does not have an EPIC EMR we can create one and give them access to their own chart. The patient can then also access their chart to bring to other healthcare providers that to provide them the most up to date information. The Epic charting system is also easy to use, secure, and accessible from anywhere with EPIC access and approved computer and user access. Once when I visited the EPIC Headquarters in Verona WI, they stated that 70% of Americans have a chart in EPIC at some point. That was 5 years ago, I am assuming its more than that and it is more connected now than ever. Having medical information at my fingertips for my patient care practice allows me to provide the best care possible. It is amazing how one system created for medical record keeping can be pivotal in my workplace today.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time. I am still working on my identity, teacher, mother, nurse, wife. My work as a caregiver in the hospital setting and my home setting has brought me to where I am in my professional life as well.

One personal finance lesson that I find important is being diligent with your money and monitoring it closely. Fraud is around every corner, so checking your accounts frequently for fraudulent activity can help catch issues early and prevent unexpected loss. Having fraud protection on your accounts through your bank is also a helpful tool to have. Personally I have had accounts be hacked and charges made to my credit card on more than one occasion in the last year. It seems that with the pandemic people are more desperate and fraud has hit more people close to me than ever before. I check my accounts daily for unauthorized activity and have a personal relationship with my banker whom I have known for many years. I have worked hard for my income and I do not wish identity theft or fraudulent activity on anyone. Managing my account activity closely is very important to me.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time.

Making a list of To-Do's is one of the best ways to clear my mind. Anytime I get overwhelmed with everything I need to do in a week or in a day it is much easier to write it all down. For example, for a family with little kids, it is best to make this list in a quiet moment, either first thing in the morning or one of the last things a night. This habit will get things off your mind while also creating a task-list for the day or the next day. Each time something is crossed off the list, you will feel accomplished as well as motivated to cross something else off the list. I usually use this method when I am getting overwhelmed, and I share my list with my husband and even make a copy of it for him to complete some of the tasks as well. Sometimes the list can get too big or one small project can turn into a bigger project, which can cloud the mind even more. Other things I have done in the past to clear my mind include: Taking a walk Watching a favorite show Cooking a meal alone or with family Going for a drive or outside play with the kids Taking some time for myself, by hanging out with friends or calling a friend Not everything can be accomplished in one day, so it may be helpful to make a list for future events, or bigger tasks to keep separated from the daily tasks. Future projects take planning and sometimes financial preparedness as well, and therefore something to consider. With having three little children a full time nursing career, my education coming up, a household to maintain, and finances to worry about, my list gets overwhelming at times. When my mother comes to visit for a few days, there are some long-term or delayed tasks she can help me with as well. This past Easter weekend for instance, she took some items off my list. She helped clean and organize the basement, and helped clean out the garage for company. This was two things that were clouding my mind and made it harder to accomplish daily tasks. Her help with the little kids was a mind-cleanser as well, in that she allowed me time to relax and focus on myself and my relationship with my husband. Having helpers in your life and leaning on your support people is a big help to clear your mind and focus on what is important.

I've always known I would pursue the terminal degree in nursing, that being a PhD. As a life-long learner, having a PhD will fulfill me with knowledge to continue learning and researching the nursing field at an elevated level. I started my nursing education with completing a BS in Nursing and a BS in Public Health Aging and Health, with a minor in Gerontology. My Masters in Nursing has a focus on Administration however, I much prefer teaching over administration at this time in my life. After entering the specialty of Labor and Delivery and subsequently obtaining my RNC-OB in late 2020, I had the itch to finally apply to the PhD program at Loyola University. To my surprise they accepted me for Fall 2021, however I pushed back my start date due to me being pregnant with my third child. Fall 2022 quickly approaches and I am seeking scholarship opportunities to help reduce the financial burden this PhD will place on my family. I have currently 3 small children, ages 4, 3, and 4 months at the time of this application. My husband currently is a stay-at-home Dad, with the exception of some DoorDash/Uber Eat deliveries when I am home. I work full-time 12 hour shifts at my community hospital (see profile) as Labor and Delivery Nurse. In addition, I teach clinical to ADN students through a community college. After working inpatient nursing, teaching ADN students, and raising my family, I still desire to further my education so that I can continue to give back. I want to bring the new generation of nurses into the healthcare field with a holistic perspective, safety, and passion in their bones. This will not be easy, however having a PhD will give me the tools I need broaden my own horizons, obtain the research needed, make connections in the education world, and encompass that all into my future teaching philosophy. Each educational opportunity I have come across and accomplished has made me a better, more well-rounded nurse, and even improved my interpersonal skills with my co-workers. I wish to keep striving to enhance my knowledge and encouraging others I know to go for higher education as well. Specifically with my PhD I wish to research in the field of maternity and childbirth. There is still such a need for education and advancement in this area, I will have more specific topics when I am closer to researching and writing my dissertation at the end of my graduate school time. Thank you for you consideration.