I am driven and highly motivated and committed to becoming a CRNA, so much so that I followed the committee’s recommendation after being denied entry last year and took three graduate level courses including two graduate Nursing courses resulting in an A in both. I also took an Advanced Pathophysiology course and finished with a B+; overall 3.75 graduate GPA. I also shadowed two CRNAs for an additional 24 hours this past spring bringing my total shadow hours to 64. I am grateful that this hardwork paid off and I was accepted into my #1 school choice; University at Buffalo. My brother Curtis was my original inspiration to pursue an advanced practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia. At birth, Curtis was diagnosed with a genetic chromosomal abnormality of which, he requires total care, is non-verbal and unable to communicate any goals of his own. Watching him persevere through medical hardships, inspires me to push forward despite any setbacks that I might face in my life. My children have since become my inspiration for pursuing an advanced practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia. My two children see me as their role model, and I want them to be motivated by my story: a sick sibling, poverty, single parent household. Those difficult obstacles have helped mold me into the person that I am today, no excuses, just action. By obtaining an advanced practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia, I want to show my children that hard work, self-motivation, dedication, and perseverance will help them achieve their dreams and secure their futures as well. Since shadowing for 64 hours, I was able to get a good feel for what it means to be a CRNA. Ultimately, I would like to work for 10 years clinically before moving to the academia side, to teach Anesthesia concepts and theory. My biggest passion is to give back to school aged children of impoverished situations where there is a need for a positive male role model. I have since joined a mentorship program at my high school alma matter. The goal is that by showing children that there is someone who looks like them, who has a similar background/upbringing can be instrumental for their confidence and career aspirations. Not only is obtaining DNP, CRNA status inspiring, I can also tell them how I did it, ultimately inspiring the next group of CRNAs, doctors and engineers. Although I came from a single parent household, I was lucky to have positive role models in positions with resources to mentor kids like myself and others through organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The Boys and Girls Club exposed me to people of all walks of life. It was because of those mentors that led me to be able to visualize where I am today. I have since, become a mentor of high school aged boys. By achieving my DNP, CRNA would provide me with proof to the kids that anything that you work hard for can be achieved, not to mention also increasing diversity in the CRNA profession.

My brother Curtis was my original inspiration to pursue an advanced practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia. At birth, Curtis was diagnosed with a genetic chromosomal abnormality of which, he requires total care, is non-verbal and unable to communicate any goals of his own. Watching him persevere through medical hardships, inspires me to push forward despite any setbacks that I might face in my life. My children have since become my inspiration for pursuing an advanced practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia. My two children see me as their role model, and I want them to be motivated by my story: a sick sibling, poverty, single parent household. Those difficult obstacles have helped mold me into the person that I am today, no excuses, just action. By obtaining an advanced practice degree in Nurse Anesthesia, I want to show my children that hard work, self-motivation, dedication, and perseverance will help them achieve their dreams and secure their futures as well. Since shadowing for 64 hours, I was able to get a good feel for what it means to be a CRNA. Ultimately, I would like to work for 10 years clinically before moving to the academia side, to teach Anesthesia concepts and theory. My biggest passion is to give back to school aged children of impoverished situations where there is a need for a positive male role model. I have since joined a mentorship program at my high school alma matter. The goal is that by showing children that there is someone who looks like them, who has a similar background/upbringing can be instrumental for their confidence and career aspirations. Not only is obtaining DNP, CRNA status inspiring, I can also tell them how I did it, ultimately inspiring the next group of CRNAs, doctors and engineers. Although I came from a single parent household, I was lucky to have positive role models in positions with resources to mentor kids like myself and others through organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The Boys and Girls Club exposed me to people of all walks of life. It was because of those mentors that led me to be able to visualize where I am today. I have since, become a mentor of high school aged boys. By achieving my DNP, CRNA would provide me with proof to the kids that anything that you work hard for can be achieved, not to mention also increasing diversity in the CRNA profession. I am driven and highly motivated and committed to becoming a CRNA, so much so that I followed the committee’s recommendation after being denied entry last year and took three graduate level courses including two graduate Nursing courses resulting in an A in both. I also took an Advanced Pathophysiology course and finished with a B+; overall 3.75 graduate GPA. I also shadowed two CRNAs for an additional 24 hours this past spring bringing my total shadow hours to 64. I am grateful that this hardwork paid off and I was accepted into my #1 school choice; University at Buffalo. With the money I hope to relocate and begin living life full time in the North Carolina metropolitan area. Also help fund activities for my 2 children who currently play soccer, baseball, basketball, ballet and gymastics year round.

I aspire to become a CRNA or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist one day and to do so it required me to obtain Critical Care/ICU experience prior to applying to school. The aspects that I looked forward to the most were applying knowledge to practice in order to stabilize and care for my patients in the ICU. Over my 8-year career, I have obtained knowledge not only from skill repetition but also from studying and obtaining my Critical Care certification (CCRN). Being able to apply knowledge in order to help save patients' lives is extremely satisfying. There is nothing better than providing holistic care at the bedside to a patient in need. To be a member of the trusted profession is not only an honor but a privilege. I look forward to teaching and integrating new nurses. Throughout my career I served as a RN Clinical Instructor at a local college. I was responsible for 8 RN students at time, teaching them how to critically think and apply theory to practice. Although I am no longer an educator, I often find similar joy in assisting coworkers. The importance of working as a team to achieve positive outcomes is the ultimate goal. In five years, I see myself working in an Operating Room (OR) as a CRNA or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist. In 10 years I see myself teaching theory or clinical for a CRNA program. I first learned about CRNAs during nursing school, then more once I joined the surgical ICU team. I wanted to see what they did aside from dropping patients off after surgery, so I applied and obtained 64 hours of CRNA Shadowing experience in the OR in two different states. From my experience I learned that CRNAs are like the captains of the ship, no different than a pilot, whose goal is to ensure a safe and efficient take-off (intubation), safe cruising altitude (hemodynamically stable) and smooth landing following the procedure. Initially, my goal was to graduate with Associate in Applied Science, RN, then it was to obtain my BSN. With those two goals completed, next was to become an ICU nurse. After about 4 years into my career, I was able to reach the ICU/CCU. Next on the list was to obtain CCRN certification which was obtained a year later. Ultimately my goal was to apply to and get accepted into a CRNA program. After denial last year, I was lucky enough to be accepted into two Doctor of Nursing Practice CRNA programs. My last goal is now to complete Graduate school, obtain Doctor of Nursing Practice CRNA degree and both ACNP; Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and CRNA certifications, practice and then eventually teach the next generation of CRNAs.